ISSUE 446 -JANUARY 2013 ISSN 0257-361X 37. Jahrgang

THE GAMES JOURNAL www.gamesjournal.at

INTERNATIONAL EDITION: IN THIS ISSUE WE PRESENT 55 GAMES OUR REVIEW u TZOLK’IN

used in a game, but are randomly selected FROM CHICHEN ITZA TO PALENQUE from a total of 13 monuments, so that there is enough variety) and six buildings. Those buildings are available from Level 1 build- TZOLK’IN ings for the first half of the game (position of THE MAYAN CALENDAR the cog wheel) and from Level 2 buildings in the second half of the game. The selection of buildings is replenished from stock - con- Take care!, This will be the shortest review those wheels), a big cog wheel in the mid- trary to the monuments - after a building in history: In your turn you must place a dle of the board which is moved by one cog was bought out of the display. minimum of one (or more, if you want) out of 26 and thereby moves the 5 smaller workers on the lowest available space on cog wheels. Due to this ingenious mechan- I want you to take a closer look at the cog one of the 5 cog wheels and pay the stated ics we are confronted here with a worker wheels with me. In Palenque you can only placement costs with corn - and depending placement game featuring an entirely new acquire corn or wood, when you take your on the number of workers you placed in ac- mechanism. worker back. Corn is essential - as already cordance with a table - additional corn or you take at least one (or more) workers off The workers that you park on the cog Gert Stöckl the wheels and either receive the respec- wheels for several rounds get more valuable A sophisticated worker placement game that keeps tive resource or corn or you can implement with each of those rounds, as the revenues fascinating me with its cog wheels. the respective action of the wheel. So, these in resources and choices of actions, in part have been 95% of the basic rules. It is phe- also coupled with accruing victory points - mentioned - for placing your workers, but nomenal, with what simple basic principle rise continually in value. In addition to the also to feed them; that happens four times you can make do in a top quality game! cog wheels there are three tracks for the in the game at the so called Harvest Cele- temples of gods, which yield, the higher you brations, when you must pay 2 corn for each As the foretold end of the world did not climb on their steps, victory points and also worker. If you cannot pay this amount you happen in December of 2012 I will have resources; and then there are three technol- lose 3 victory points for each worker you to tell you about the new game by CGE/ ogy tracks, which offer different additional could not feed. It is very important at that Heidelberger in more detail. The board fea- possibilities or improve actions acquired time to know that you can also slip below tures, in addition to five cog wheels with the from the cog wheels or reduce the costs Zero on the victory point track, something already mentioned revenues of resources of such actions. And then there are areas that is not explicitly mentioned in the rules. and choices of actions (marked around for exactly 6 monuments (only those 6 are Furthermore, you can acquire corn harvest tiles in Palenque, not to be mis- taken for corn, and wood har- vest tiles, not to be mistaken for wood, which can score lots of victory points at the end of the game, if you happen to have built the corresponding monu- ment and if it happened to be available.

On the cog wheel of Yaxchilan you can also acquire wood and corn, but also stone and gold and - most important - one of the coveted crystal skulls. The skulls are essential for generat- ing victory points on the fifth wheel, Chichen Itza. You must deposit them there to be able to do any action on that wheel. If you manage to implement one of the high value actions at the end of this somewhat bigger wheel you are rewarded with a huge amount of victory points and also valuable advances on the temples of the gods.

In Tikal (the cog wheel of that name, not the game) you can, besides acquiring the right for an advance movement on two different temples of the gods, mainly acquire progress on the

Color codes, target groups, features, icons and GABIS are 2 ISSUE 446 / JANUARY 2013 explained on page 5 and at the bottom of pages 40 and 41 www.gamesjournal.at TZOLK’IN / 40 LINES FOR MEEPLES t OUR REVIEW

four different technology tracks or build- worker wouldn’t be bad, either, and to ad- ing and monument actions. This means vance on one technology track or the other that you have to acquire the right to take a would be super, too; for havens sake, I have monument or building tile with an action totally forgotten the temple god tracks; and from the wheel and, of course, this costs a that’s where you can really accrue a lot of rather substantial amount of wood, stone points if you are in first position. To grab the and/or gold. starting player once in order to place work- ers more cheaply would be advantage, too. Out of all the possible actions available from And this building, with which I can forget the cog wheel at Uxmal I only want to take a about feeding one worker would be nice, closer look at one of them, that is, taking an too, let me have it! And that monument additional worker from general stock into over there, that would be the top, it would your personal stock. All in all three addi- give me 18 victory points with 6 workers tional workers are available to supplement but the resources for that are soooooooooo your starting group of 3. In each worker hard to acquire.” placement game it is usually your duty, or at least, essential to buy yourself more actions So you see there is a lot to do in this game, by buying more workers first. This is not if only I could rid myself of those other play- necessarily the case in Tzolk’in, as I will have ers, who are permanently in my way. One to feed those additional workers, a total of this must be done in any case immediately, four times in the game. I have seen games a copy of Tzolk’in must be bought, because of Tzolk’in won by a player using four work- this gem of a modified worker placement ers and only acquiring this fourth worker game can under no circumstances be miss- 40 Lines for Meeples in the last third of the game. But of course, ing from the games cupboard of an expert Dagmar de Cassan, Editor-in-Chief more workers give me more possibilities to player. People, make room for it! Hopefully act and to leave them longer on the wheels we will soon see more from those Italian de- to more easily reach the high-value revenue signers Daniele Tascini and Simone Luciani, The period after Christmas is also the time spots. and if it only were an expansion for Tzolk’in, where everybody can sort at leisure through which is bound to arrive! I‘m looking for- all the gifts he received from family mem- In Chichen Itza, as I did already mention, ward to it!  bers, friends or colleagues at work. crystal skulls are essential to acquire points Gert Stöckl When it is known that I am a “gamer”, the re- there. The crystal skulls are, by the ways, actions of my little universe change. Were it limited to exactly 13 pieces, so that you INFORMATION such important things like candle sticks, vas- have to join the wheel early to not leave the PLAYERS: es, coffee cups or Christmas decorations that high-value positions on this wheel to other Designer: D. Tascini, S. Luciani 2-4 arrived, they suddenly change into boxes of players. Artist: Luciani, Tascini, Vavroň AGE: games, what a marvelous change! Price: ca. 40 Euro 13+ Especially then when currently a series of After each quarter-turn of the main cog Publisher: Heidelberger / CGE 2012 TIME: well-known games like Scrabble is published wheel in the middle there happens either a www.hds-fantasy.com 90+ as a chocolate edition or a totally unknown hand-out of additional resources or victory promotion game from a provider of mobile points, depending on the position of your facilities. scoring markers on the three temple god EVALUATION But what do I do when I could not wait and tracks. The first thing that is implemented Worker Placement bought myself the new games and then get at that point, though, is the Harvest Festival. For experts the same ones as a gift? Say thank you polite- Version: de Rules: de + en fr nl pl ly, the giver only had the best of intentions, Resume: Just like the cog wheels interlock In-game text: no and make a gift of the double to someone do the mechanisms in Tzol’kin interlock. The Comments: else, maybe you can carry the infection of strategies to win are manifold: This begins New mechanisms with cog wheels * games play into a new family! To give games Amazing components * Simple basic for a gift is always a good idea, you cannot already with the varying equipment of play- rules with a lot of decisions in details ers due to randomly drawn starting resourc- have enough games! es tiles. I have deliberately not detailed the Compares to: Check out our games database LUDORIUM Other worker placement games like too, at http://www.ludorium.at. mechanisms of fire clearing, beg for corn, Caylus or Stone Age advance the cog wheel by two cogs, fall off WIN The Games Journal can be read now a wheel with a worker, take the accumu- Other editions: as an eBook and as Kindle (in German and Rio Grande / CGE, USA; Rebel.pl lated corn revenue from the starting player, English) and therefore even easier to read the final scoring, and so on and so on. You than a PDF file on the respective modern are continually confronted with consider- devices. If you like our WIN, please take out ations like those (only a small selection of a subscription. We have a PayPal account; so them): How do I acquire, if possible, first, payment of € 6 for a One Year Subscription one of those valuable crystal skulls and how is easy and safe, please check http://www. do I get to be the first on that wheel, too, to gamesjournal.at score most points; or do I do it the other way The printed edition of our games Handbook round, do I place a worker in Chichen Itza GAME BY GAME is published and can be first without having a skull? Damn, I need bought at the SPIELBOX-SHOP. Infos: http:// cord to place my workers; an additional My rating: www.spielehandbuch.at 

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Color codes, target groups, features, icons and GABIS are 4 ISSUE 446 / JANUARY 2013 explained on page 5 and at the bottom of pages 40 and 41 www.gamesjournal.at DIE PALÄSTE VON CARRARA / GABIS t OUR REVIEW

STATUES, MARBLE AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT GAMES BUYER INFORMATION SYSTEM - GABIS

STRUCTURE DIE PALÄSTE VON CARRARA Each game review also features an evaluation which can help you to find the game that best suits your tastes. The THE KING IS COMING, THE KING IS COMING! color accompanying each game title represents the USER Group. The headline also contains icons for age and number of players. The BAR in the evaluation box displays color codes for up to Quick, set up another statue, fix a Coat of Your personal board shows six towns in 10 features of a game.

Arms over the portal and polish the marble. which you build by placement, and the six USER GROUP White marble under a morning sun im- kinds of buildings for which you can trigger We have defined 4 target groups (color accompanying the presses the king most of all …. a scoring. head line) We players are Italian princes who were or- A „card track“ shows the winning conditions Kinder: dered by the king to construct magnificent for the basic game (minimum number of Games for children an educational games. Adults can play buildings and from time to time we invite scorings, of prestige objects received, to- in a guiding function. Familien: the king to inspect our progress. This earns tal costs of buildings already built) and the Children and parents play together, all have the same us more money from him and we also rise prestige points for the final scoring. chance to win and have fun. Freunde: in this esteem. Players who their moves in turn must imple- Young people and adults play together as equals The king’s money we spend on the marble ment one of those three actions: Experten: market for new building blocks. The marble BUY BUILDING BLOCKS from the Market, as Games with special demands on rules and playing time. Especially for game geeks just delivered from Carrara is very expen- many as you can pay for and want to buy, sive; the longer it lies around unnoticed by but only from one sector. Before you buy Please note for the user groups Children, Family and buyers the lower the costs get. Often you the wheel is turned by one position (this Friends: Children who love to play can be ahead of their peers! Please note that our target group “families” does not are given a gift of of complete load of mar- makes remaining building blocks cheaper) imply the classical concept of „family games“! Furthermore, ble blocks of minor value. and the Market is replenished to a total of our user groups can overlap. The choice of suitable games always depends on your playing partners and your fun With those marble blocks, the lighter the eleven blocks. with games! more expensive, we set up buildings in at- BUILD A BUILDING: You choose one of the Games that are especially eligible for Solo play or for 2 play- tractive towns. But the most remunerative nine building projects on display, pay for it ers or Large groups of players are marked with an icon. building orders are gone quickly, so don’t by returning the necessary building blocks FEATURES miss your chance. into the bag and place the buildings next to Each game targets preferences for different features in a But let’s take it in turn and from the start: your player board. Depending on the city player, therefore each game is not suitable for each player. We have listed 10 features players note when deciding The appealing game components are you can only use the best quality marble or on a game. Only if a player finds his preferred features in building blocks of any quality. a game he will enjoy the game. The color code marks the Heinz Frühwirth dominant features. Educational games train the highlighted SCORING a city or a type of building: To preference. No impressive innovations but a surprisingly fresh and solid score a city is only possible once in the game; complete with useful and well-working expansion; a game for each city and is therefore marked Empty boxes: This feature is neclectable or not present little gem among the many new releases. One colored box: This feature is present, but not essential on the board. To score a city the scoring Two colored boxes: This feature is present and important player must have build the minimum num- in the game meant for two to four players and for each ber of buildings indicated on the board for Three colored boxes: This feature is dominant and essential of them a personal screen shaped like a this city. Varieties of buildings each player Chance: palazzo, seven scoring pieces and a person- can score once for himself on his own The game is influenced by dice, cards or any other form of random generator al player board are provided. board. In a scoring you are rewarded with Tactics: 30 building tiles showing costs of one to prestige objects, prestige points or money, Take decision, short-term planning, planning based on five building blocks and depict six different but those rewards are only received by the one move Strategy: kinds of buildings. Seven wooden pieces in scoring player. Think ahead, long-term planning, planning for several each of six colors represent marble in dif- By the way, money is only available from moves ferent levels of quality. 36 wooden markers scorings when buildings have been con- Creativity: The player has to provide words, phrases, images and other in six different shapes represent prestige structed in the cities which also yield mon- creative efforts objects; 40 card board coins of „1“, „5“ and ey. Knowledge: Cultural and educational knowledge, long-term memory „10“ and a bag for replenishing the build- After those three actions you can always Memory: ing blocks complete the components of the buy a prestige object if you are able to af- Remember, learn by heart, short-time memory basic game. A sealed envelope holding an ford it and if there are some prestige objects Communication: Talk to each other, negotiate, inform expansion is also included; I will get back to left. Each prestige objects scores three pres- Interaction: this envelope later. tige points at the end of the game. Influencing each other, bluffing, auction On the main board there is room for nine Dexterity Motor skills different building projects, which are build- The course a game usually will be as follows: Action: ing tiles, and for the Prestige objects which Players use their starting capital of 20 coins Body movement, balance and reaction you can buy and which are name objects to buy marble from the marble market (the ADDITIONAL INFORMATION somewhat casually in the rules. The im- revolving disc) until they have acquired Version: The edition of the game on which the review is age of the cities in which you build, is used enough blocks to complete a building proj- based Rules: This lists the languages in which rules are available or to mark the scoring of a city. The marble ect. For this they take a building tile from are included in the game, often even more translations can market is represented by the somewhat the board, build it by putting the neces- be found on the web. dominant revolving disc, which shows the sary building blocks back into the bag and In-game text: A YES marks a game with language- dependent components that cannot be played without current costs. All that is surrounded by a place the building next to their own player’s translation or knowledge of the language „Kramer track” to mark your Prestige points. board. In this way you buy and build until

WIN The Games Journal now also available as eBook! www.gamesjournal.at For all information on that check our website. ISSUE 446 / JANUARY 2013 5 OUR REVIEW u DIE PALÄSTE VON CARRARA

three expansions: You can restrict yourself to variable winning conditions, or you can use the expensive building cards separately or use the extra feature of the special cards. The Upgrader tiles, too, could be added separately and by themselves.

This keeps the game interesting and var- ied for a long time to come, provided that you like the topic. The idea with the enve- lope is nice and and fancy, as casual gam- ers or families would be swamped by this plethora of expansions. For the experienced gamer playing the basic game is an easy en- try, the extra features provide more depth for the game and demand varying tactics.

Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling have taken care that each feature of the game works perfectly in each constellation of players and that rising tension and chal- lenge is introduced to the game. Franz Vo- hwinkel has contributed the right flair and mood for the game with his illustrations. The rules are not too complicated and can be well explained due to examples and il- lustrations. This facilitates the access to the there are enough buildings to score variet- DO NOT OPEN! game for casual gamers. A solid game that ies of buildings or to score cities. If you have Only open when you have played at least can excite experienced players and can also money left you can buy prestige objects. two games with the basic game. be played by families.  You must always pay attention to the best Heinz Frühwirth time for buying which kind of marble to If you want to be surprised, you should stop avoid that other players grab the necessary reading here. For all others I did look into INFORMATION building blocks before one can buy them; the envelope and have discovered the fol- PLAYERS: the same goes for the buildings featuring lowing: Designer: W. Kramer, M. Kiesling 2-4 the coveted but limited prestige objects. As An additional expansion for the rules, 6 new Artist: Franz Vohwinkel AGE: cities can only be scored once you have also buildings with building costs of 8, 31 cards Price: ca. 35 Euro 12+ to pay attention to the number of build- and 8 tiles „Aufwerter”, that is, Upgrader. Publisher: Hans im Glück 2012 TIME: ings an opposing player has built in a city www.hans-im-glueck.de 90+ to avoid that another player scores the city First you turn over your personal player’s for himself. board to reveal its back side; you find now This chain of events is continuing until the two additional scoring spaces for City build- EVALUATION last building project has been taken from ings (brown background) or Country build- Resource management the board and was built, or until one player ings (green background). With friends Version: de complies with all three winning conditions Those 6 new building tiles are set out next Rules: de of the game. This player can then announce to the board and can be built in the same In-game text: yes the end of the game and scores another five way as all other buildings. New is that you Comments: prestige points for doing so. In both cases can upgrade or rise buildings; you replace Well structured rules * Beautiful com- play goes on until the player to the right of any building of your choice with one of ponents * Expansions already included * Very small element of luck the starting player, so that each player will higher building costs and have only to pay have had the same number of turns- the difference. Compares to: Macao, Der Palast von Alhambra, Die If a building with costs of 8 was built, you Burgen von Burgund The final scoring is done easily and quickly: can choose one of the Upgrading tiles and You score the total of building costs for place it on the corresponding spot on your Other editions: Z-Man, USA; Filosofia, Canada; the buildings you did construct as prestige player’s board. This then results in a scoring points, each prestige object that you col- with receiving more money or more victory lected scores three points for you and each points or, maybe, even both. remaining sum of 5 money scores 1 prestige Six brown, six purple and six grey cards points. If you have the highest total of pres- guarantee us new conditions for winning tige points at the end of the scoring and the game over and over again. Donald X. therefore are most esteemed in the King’s sends his regards. Eight green extra cards favor, you have won - what a big surprise. offer additional victory points for the final But this game box also holds a sealed en- scoring. velope, marked in huge letters on the seal I have talked only about THE expansion

with: game, but in reality the envelope offers My rating:

Color codes, target groups, features, icons and GABIS are 6 ISSUE 446 / JANUARY 2013 explained on page 5 and at the bottom of pages 40 and 41 www.gamesjournal.at DIE PALÄSTE VON CARRARA t OUR REVIEW

WIN The Games Journal now also available as eBook! www.gamesjournal.at For all information on that check our website. ISSUE 446 / JANUARY 2013 7 OUR REVIEW u ANTIKE DUELLUM

resources (instead of 1) in that City and you ROME VS. CARTHAGE will also have a defense value of “3”, instead of “1”. Fortifications give you an extra +1 in Defense. ANTIKE DUELLUM One case (MILITIA) allows you to bring on GREECE VS. PERSIA the map some of the units that you have in your recruitment box, spending 2 irons for each unit (legion or fleet): you are allowed As many readers surely remember, Mac marble. We will see later how to use those to place max one NEW unit on a single city. Gerdts’ game ANTIKE was a very success- resources. (The cost in Antike was only 1 iron per unit). ful one but it had a few small problems if Printed on the map are also a Science Chart Finally one case (SCIENTIA) allows you to played with only two players, despite the (where each Country may develop her “purchase” new units from your reserve suggested special rules. “know-how”), two Recruitment Boxes (one (Legions will cost 1 gold and Fleets 2 gold So the designer decided to create a spe- for each player, to stock the available units), each): you place them in your recruitment cific two players version of that game and a Victory Point track and the well know Mac case on the map and you will be able to presented it at Essen 2011 under the name Gerdts ROUNDEL (used to program the play them later, visiting again the case “mi- CASUS BELLI: you had to borrow the wood- game’s actions). litia”. But SCIENTIA gives you also the very en pieces from Antike in order to play this ANTIKE DUELLUM is offered complete with game, so Mac was still not completely satis- two sets of 24 UNITS each (12 legions and Pietro Cremona fied and, immediately after Essen, he was al- 12 fleets per player, identical to those of An- Antike Duellum is a very interesting combination of war ready working with a better and improved tike), 12 TEMPLES, three sets of RESOURCES game and board game for two players. Two Big Ancient Powers (Rome and Carthage or Macedonia and Persia) version. I had the pleasure to test this ver- (Gold, Irons and Marble), a set of CITY TO- develop their countries’ trade networks until they arrive to sion with the designer during his stay in KENS (Gold, Irons and Marble Cities, with a the final confrontation where armies must clash! Italy in March 2012, when he came for the different color on each sides), a few coins, 12 bigger Italian gaming convention (PLAY, FORTIFICATIONS (called in the game Town held in Modena) and I was more than hap- Walls), a deck of 25 EVENT CARDS and a py to know that Mac finally reprinted Casus deck of 21 PERSONAGES CARDS. There are important opportunity to improve your Belli in this complete new version, with his also two special units (one Admiral and one civilization buying one of the following five own box and all the components, under the Commander) used for a variant offered at “KNOW HOW”: name of ANTIKE DUELLUM the end of the rules STRATA allows your Legions to move 2 Re- Opening the box you immediately note Each player starts the game putting three gions instead of one (cost: 5 gold) that the map is printed on both sides: Cities on the map (one for each kind of re- NAVIGATIO allows your Fleets to move 2 Re- Side A shows the Mediterranean area where source), a Legion and a Fleet on his Recruit- gions instead of one (cost: 6 gold) the struggle between Roma and Cartago ment Box, a supply of 3 gold, 3 iron and 3 MONETA allows you to get one resource ex- took place during the three Punic wars (an marble resources, 1 Fortress, 1 marker on the tra when you take them (cost: 7 gold) area going from Hispania to Italia and from roundel, 1 marker on the VP track and 5 ex- RES PUBLICA allows you to have an addi- Gallia to Numidia). Side B shows the Aegean tra discs of his color ready to be used on the tional defense value of +1 (cost: 8 gold) area where the struggle between Greece Science chart. You select which conflict you COMMERCIUM allows you to exchange lots and Persia was fought during the two Per- wish to play and you place your three cities of 3 resources for 2 different ones (cost: 9 sian wars (from Greece to Persia and from on the corresponding town locations of the gold) Macedonia to Crete). map (the starting cities are highlighted on In Antike the prices are all different and the A very interesting Historical Background the map with a white color). Reveal the first fifth Know How (Commercium) is not avail- booklet was added to the game with a sum- three EVENT cards and you are ready to go. able. mary of the history of those wars and their A typical “Mac Gerdts“ game is played mov- Players alternate turns moving their mark- most important leaders. ing a marker on the roundel and execut- ers clockwise on the roundel (as usual you Before proceeding with the review let me ing the related action: ANTIKE DUELLUM is may move 1 to 3 cases for free and you must clearly explain that Antike Duellum IS NOT no exception. On the first turn you decide pay 1 resource for each extra case) and ex- a real war game, but a very nice strategy in which of the 8 cases of the roundel you ecuting the related actions. game that will keep very busy two players want to place your marker and you immedi- You may found new cities during your turn for 60-90 minutes. In the following com- ately activate it. (paying 1 marble, 1 iron and 1 gold per city), ments I will try to underline the main differ- Three of the cases allow you to PRODUCE re- provided that you have at least one unit ences between this game and Antike, add- sources: you get 1 resource for each of your (Legion or Fleet) in regions where a town ing a few specific notes. cities that shows the same symbol (marble, symbol is still available. The players may The maps are divided into REGIONS of three iron or gold) and you also get 1 coin any decide the “type” of city (marble, gold or types: sea, land and mixed (with sea and time that you collect one or more resources. iron) and they place the related counter on land). Blue and red border lines are printed (Note that difference with Antike, where you the map, showing the appropriate player’s around the regions to regulate the move- collected 1 coin every round). color (brown or white). This is again differ- ments: legions may only move through the Two cases (DUELLUM) allow you to MOVE ent from ANTIKE. If cities of the same type RED borders while fleets may just cross the your units and eventually ATTACK if you en- already exist in adjacent regions you have to BLUE lines. Some borders have both colors ter a region with enemy units and/or cities. pay 1 COIN for each of them, even if they are so you may move both fleets and/or legions One case (TEMPLUM) allows you to spend under enemy control. but you are not allowed to transport legions your “marble” to build temples (6 marbles The goal of the game is to be the first to col- with fleets. Most of the Regions also have a each) and/or fortifications (1 marble each). lect 9 Personages. Players will get PERSON- walled town drawing: here you may cre- Note that in ANTIKE the cost of temples was AGE CARDS doing the following actions: ate a new city during the game. Cities pro- 5 marbles only and Fortification were not 1 “KING” (Leonidas, Dareios, etc.) every 5 cit- duce resources of three kind: gold, iron and allowed. Temples allows you to collect 3 ies that you built on the map

Color codes, target groups, features, icons and GABIS are 8 ISSUE 446 / JANUARY 2013 explained on page 5 and at the bottom of pages 40 and 41 www.gamesjournal.at ANTIKE DUELLUM t OUR REVIEW

1 “SCHOLAR” (Pythagoras, Archimedes, etc.) have to take it because you immediately initial situation, with the starting cities of every time that you are the first to buy a gain one Personage and you reduce the each player very closes each other: here new know how. The other player may still production capacities of your opponent. control of the sea is even more important buy the same know-how (at a lower cost) – Early attacks in the game are rare, but if because the central part of the map is com- in order to use the same benefit, but he will you see the possibility to conquer a City in pletely “water”. The Persian player has the not receive any card. the “heart” of the enemy kingdom … never advantage of being able to invade Macedo- 1 “CITIZEN” (Cato, Perikles, etc.) every 3 tem- hesitate to do it: you certainly lose some ex- nia early in the game, and thus the oppor- ples that you built on the map tra units but your opponent will be obliged tunity to attack Greece from the North, but 1 “GENERAL” (Hannibal. Scipio, etc.) for every to divert important forces to re-conquer as a clever Greek player will build a powerful enemy temple destroyed (when conquer- soon as possible this City. Otherwise you fleet since the beginning and take all the ing a city) may recruit new units there and menace his islands: in effect only Pylos and Chios may 1 “NAVIGATOR” (Hanno and Pytheas) when interior lines, a thing that must be avoided be attacked also by land, so the main task you control 7 sea regions. Note that in DU- at all costs. of the Greek player will be to immediately ELLUM all the regions without a city are – In Duellum, contrary to ANTIKE, all the destroy every fleet built by his enemy, if marked with a galley symbol that count units lost in battle are returned to the Re- possible. The Persian player must maximize double, so it is possible to control 7 regions cruitment box, and NOT to the reserve, so his initial rounds to create new cities in the with only 4 fleets. a good “combo” will be to make an attack North of Greece and to build there a maxi- Each new conquered PERSONAGE card al- when you have the marker in the second mum of Legions: then he must try to attack lows you to move one case up your marker DUELLUM case (the one just before the FER- the defensive line Delphi/Oreos (don’t care on the Victory Points track. If you enter a RUM case): in the following turn you will get if Thermopylae is just there, you should be case with a fortification symbol you receive new iron resources and in the turn after you too powerful at that moment) and start to a new Fortification in your reserve. But every may enter the MILITIA case to take your lost build as many fleets as possible. The Greek time that you take a new Personage Card units back in the map. player must use the power of his fleets to your opponent will get an EVENT CARD that As most of our tests were made on the Med- attack the cities on the back of the Persian he may select between the three revealed iterranean map I will end this review with armies and even on the other side of the Ae- cards always available beside the map. a few comments on the Punic Wars. Car- gean Sea, in order to oblige his opponent to Those cards allows you to make some … thage and Rome usually play in a different spend resources to create defensive units. dirty tricks or to improve your performanc- way, and this is due to the starting regions All in all a very interesting game that will es (examples: Corruption = your opponent that they have. Carthage will try to get pre- oblige you to program well in advance your loses 1 resource per type; Gold Mine = your dominance in the Mediterranean Sea and in strategy.  “gold” cities produce an extra gold; etc.) Iberia, while Roma will try to submit all the Pietro Cremona The first part of the game is a sort of race Italian, Gallic and Illyrian regions. The clash to collect enough resources to found new between the two opponents usually starts INFORMATION cities and therefore to get more resources, in the Massilia/Tolosa vs. Numantia/Tarraco PLAYERS: etc. For a few rounds you are not compelled borders: in most of our games Carthage Designer: Mac Gerdts 2 to attack your opponent: remember that tried an early invasion of Gallia with a com- Artist: M. Fahrenbach, M. Gerdts AGE: “peace is important to … prepare war” so bined attack (legions supported by fleets) Price: ca. 27 Euro 12+ the best that you can do is to select a de- while Rome was still trying to conquer the Publisher: PD-Verlag 2012 TIME: fensive line and send there the minimum north-east Regions of Cremona (thanks Mac www.pd-verlag.de 90+ number of units that will be able to block …) and Aquileia. After a few turns Rome is a potential invasion while you are busy in usually able to arrive at a status quo there, reaching new regions to create new cities. retaking the conquered regions before pre- EVALUATION Then players have to think well about their paring an attack to the Pyrenaei, the real key Cosim strategies: to Iberia. When this will happens Carthage For experts Version: de - Being the first to get a new Know-How will know that she has to defend at her best Rules: de en cost much money, but you immediately get in Iberia and attack the South of Italy (Cro- In-game text: no a benefit and a Personage card. STRATA and ton, Neapolis, Brundisium) with her fleets: Comments: NAVIGATIO are absolutely necessary if you a blitz against Rome may also be possible, Two different maps * Two-Player ver- sion of Antike * Rules differ in details * wish to be ready for a war in the middle and if it is not too much defended (but usually Long-term strategies necessary end game rounds, so it is quite common to the Roman player will build his first temple see players get one of each very soon (pric- just here). Compares to: Antike, Casus Belli es of 4 or 5 gold are still reasonable) and Roma must try to make an early defensive then adapt their strategy (buyer of STRATA line (Syracusae or Croton/Neapolis/Rome) Other editions: will recruit more Legions that fleets, and to stop a possible invasion of the southern Rio Grande Games, USA; Oya, France NAVICATIO is … exactly the inverse). Italy: she needs more legions then Carthage – Rushing for the Temples also is very im- to get the control of the North-East regions, portant, not only because they give you so she will be always backwards on the race those TWO extra resources in each city, but for the seas. Towards the end game we will mostly because they are interesting strong- typically see Roma with 14 regions against holds against a fable enemy menace (a City Carthage 12 so pressure will rise in Iberia with a temple has a defense value of 3). And and a growing fleet in the Mediterranean do not forget that you will get a Personage may become a real menace: everything card every 3 temples. now will depend on the Personage cards – Of course if you find an opportunity to at- already acquired. tack and destroy a City with a Temple you The Aegean map shows a more balanced My rating:

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Color codes, target groups, features, icons and GABIS are 10 ISSUE 446 / JANUARY 2013 explained on page 5 and at the bottom of pages 40 and 41 www.gamesjournal.at PANIC STATION t OUR REVIEW

in order to do so. Each character who shares TAKE CARE! DANGER OF INFECTIONS! a room with a parasite after the parasite movement takes one damage. So far, so simple. Players simply search for PANIC STATION the target room, the final room and stir very FIND AND SMOKE OUT ALIENS! clear of parasites by circumventing them widely - were it not for the infected player the game would be very simply and not When the new era of cooperative games and then have between one and four ac- very challenging at all. At the start of the was getting off a good start with Shad- tions at their disposal, depending on how game one of the players is infected by one ows over Camelot I was more than happy. much damage their characters had to of the equipment cards and secretly take At long last I could play at a table with my take already. Those actions can be used on the role of the host who can infect other friends and play without trying throughout for movement, attacks/fighting, searching the evening to damage them so that I could rooms or implementing special actions. Christian Grundner win. Movement means simply to move one of A fantastic cooperative game with lots of possibilities, the Unfortunately many cooperative games are your characters - you are guiding a team! only drawback is the intense explanation and necessary detailed knowledge of rules and cards before the start of hampered by the problem that one player - from one card onto the next one. When the game so that questions during the game do not give dreams up an optimum solution and the there is already a character of another player too much away. others move their markers according to on this card you must either attack this char- his instructions. There is even a name for acter or exchange an equipment card with that, its “multi Player Solitaire”. Already in him. This is a very important mechanism as players and who will only win when the re- Shadows over Camelot there was a solution it allows the host to win over players to the maining humans do not achieve their goal. presented for this problem with a traitor in other side. But more on this later, too! The host tries to infect other players by clev- the game, whose goal is exactly opposite to Attacking sounds good at the first moment, erly moving into rooms and swapping cards that of the other players, which means that but unfortunately players are lacking am- with players. For this purpose each player nobody can guide all other players because munition at the start of the game. Should starts the game with three blood cards in purposes are so different. you have already come a across and ac- his color, which have the same backside as That this mechanism produces a paranoid quired a knife or ammunition you can - as the proper equipment cards. Only the host mood at the table, because you weigh every an action - damage an Alien parasite or a or infected players may give away a blood hint or tip one gives very carefully, is part of player’s character. card to infect their vis-a-vis, a healthy player the flair of such games. Unfortunately this Searching of rooms serves the purpose to can never do that. You can protect yourself leads to some disadvantages, but more on acquire more items. When you search a from infection when you trade the petrol that later. room for the first time - you can recognize canister. However one believes that would Panic Station delivers many of the advan- this by the color of the room symbol, the work, petrol must have an antiseptic effect tages known from Shadows over Camelot black one will be visible - you simply take and you stay healthy. or Battle Star Galactica. You work together one or several equipment cards. In this Now, that both players know which cards to achieve a goal, you are are not sure if way you can find valuable equipment like they did give away they also know now if other players are really on your side, which ammunition or petrol canisters. You can an eventual attempt on infection was suc- makes a lot of accusations fly around; but search each room several times, but each cessful or not. When the attempt was suc- the special feature of Panic Station is that additional search not only yields additional cessful both players now play against all the the playing time is not as long as in those equipment, but also attracts Parasites who remaining healthy players. Of course it is to other games but is - with a stated duration can cause damage. the interest of both players to keep this a of 40 minutes - much much quicker than You can also discover rooms by placing the secret. comparable games. next room that has to be placed adjacent to The paranoia that springs up due to that one of one’s own characters. The cards may mechanism is the element that makes the What’s it about? only be turned by 180 degrees maximum game a real tense challenge. Of course play- A threat from outer space has overwhelmed and you cannot block a door. When there ers may loudly accuse each other, but no Space Station Recon-6 and players are tak- happens to be no way to place a card ac- player can show any cards to support his ing on the duties of clearing up, Each player cording to the rules you but it underneath arguments, which in turn results in many represents a team made up from a human the stack and use the next one. rather interesting situation which are real and an android of the same color. Players And last of all, special actions; with this I fun for a logic aficionado. must search the complete station in order mean actions which are enabled or acti- Due to the assembling of rooms in the to find the nest of the Aliens and to smoke vated or allowed by equipment cards or course of the game and also due to different them out. room cards. For instance, there is a First-Aid- equipment cards there are lots of differenc- The game comprises room cards featuring a box which lets you heal damage or there es between one game and the next. Some symbol and entrances at several of the edg- are rooms with computer terminals which equipment cards allow you to pass closed es. The room is printed on both sides of the make additional options available for play- doors - because those are present, too. Or card. The front and back sides of the cards ers. you might be able to protect yourself with only differ in the color of the symbol that in- When all players in turn have used up their a Protective Vest from damage or you might dicates whether the room has already been actions, you roll the dice to determine the be able to implement extra action due to searched once or not. The station is assem- direction in which parasites will move. You the Energy Drink. bled with those room cards, and the target determine one of the cardinal directions It is a bit more difficult to understand -am room with the eggs of the Alien Queen is with a roll of a four-sided die and all para- munition. Androids carry a weapons sym- shuffled into the bottom part of the deck. sites move one room card along that cardi- bols on their card and - despite this sym- Players place their markers in the first turn nal direction; the may only pass open doors bol - can only shoot with an ammunition

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card laid out. Humans can never shoot. The player can only win if he manages to infect guages I do not really know, but, however ammunition card is - similar to the mecha- a healthy player or eliminated him from the that may be, you should try by all means to nism from Settlers of Catan the Card Game game in combat. get hold of the new rules because the old - turned by 90 degrees for each use to indi- This brings us to the - in my opinion - very ones did not work very well in certain parts. cate the remaining shots and is spent after big problem of the game. I believe that it It is my guess that it would have been bet- four such turnings. The character that was is one of my missions in life to acquaint as ter, too, to produce different versions of hit takes one damage which is enough in many people as I can with that kind of more the game in different languages with text case of a Parasite to eliminate him. There complex games. Therefore I very often am on the cards. This would have overcome are also knives with a 50% hit probabitlity, the one to explain complex games at a the initial obstacle of needing to know the which can be used by Human characters, games evening and it is inherent in the defi- effect of all cards at the start of the game, too; but then there are also hand grenades, nition of such a partially cooperative game when, for instance the petrol canister would sighting telescopes and much much more that all rules including all special cases and list both its functions (avoiding of infection which all must be shown, explained and all cards have to be explained very explicitly and necessary for winning the game). demonstrated before the start of the game. and very thoroughly to all players before Panic Station is a game that is played rather The rooms are not only different due to the game begins, because you simply can- quickly, that can run extremely different their doors, but also due to different sym- not ask questions in the middle of such a from one game to another, a game that bols in them; for instance, there are rooms game. There would be too much danger to offers loads of tactical and strategic pos- that yield several items already at a first reveal your situation. sibilities and choices and is - on topic of all search or rooms with sick bays where you For instance, what happens if a player - after this - cooperative, too, is at the moment in can heal yourself. One special room is shuf- the host tried twice unsuccessfully to infect a niche of its own. IF you are not frightened fled into the top of the card stack, it holds him - only holds blood cards? When there is away by the complexity of choices and the the computer terminal. This terminal can a difference of opinions on the rules at that rule book, you find a good mixture of mech- be used by spending an action in order to point the whole game is a goner, because anisms which are quickly absorbed. Unfor- call up one of three special functions: 1) you either too much information is passed or a tunately, there is quite a bit of chance in can place the next room anywhere instead player believes himself to be infected while the game and you sometimes can be elimi- of adjacent to one of your characters. 2) you not being infected. nated from a game rather quickly without can open all locked doors. 3) you can use a Yet another problem are the rules; at a being responsible for it and without having scan to determine how many members of minimum, the first batch of Panic Station done much, but in such a situation you will the troop have already been infected. This was delivered with rules that were written just have to play again, won’t you?  scan of course happens anonymously, but so confusingly that it took our group a few Christian Grundner if the result reveals that all players are in- games to extract the meaning of a lot of fected, the game ends instantly. rules. The original rule book contained a big mis- Meanwhile, better rules are available on- INFORMATION take at that point: All infected players were line, which change quite a few things in PLAYERS: able to win together. Therefore there were the game and which are written in a much Designer: David Ausloos 4-6 some groups who were thinking that stra- more understandable way. You recognize Artist: David Ausloos AGE: tegically that all players let themselves be the new rules on the strategic tips that are Price: ca. 25 Euro 12+ infected voluntarily so that all game were included in them. If those new rules are Publisher: White Goblin/Pegasus 12 TIME: won won by all players having turned Alien. included in later batches of Panic Station www.pegasus.de 40+ In a new version of the rules an infected and if they were translated into all four lan- EVALUATION Cooperative SciFi game For experts Version: de Rules: de + cz en fr nl In-game text: no Comments: Good mechanisms * Detailed explana- tion necessary as question could reveal affiliations * Plays fast * Rather high factor of chance

Compares to: Schatten über Camelot Other editions: White Goblin Games, Netherlands; REXhry, Czech Republic; Stronghold Games, USA My rating:

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scored, and, fourth, the Meadow, which is NOBLESSE OBLIGE used as a land plot for constructing build- ings. At the start of the game each player has the possibility to choose 0 to 3 pieces NOBLEMEN of such landscapes; then the difference to WHO WINS ELISABETH’S FAVOUR? 12 pieces is made up by randomly drawn pieces. With the exception of the Meadow, the other landscapes have an additional I’m planning to visit the Valley of the Loire some game publishers, too - I could shed advantage: For more than 4 fields that you in the 18th century in the near future, but some emotional tears! place (= farm) you get 2 pound Bonus, for today I direct my time travelling machine Let’s turn to the game board which is print- across the Channel into 16th century Eng- ed on both sides, and to the rule book. The Rudolf Ammer land, the reign of Elisabeth I. As a former shape of the board resembles the floor plan An absolute high light of the2012 vintage of games, also consumer of Sisi films (Yes, I admit it and of a castle instead of being simple a rectan- suitable for families with playing experience, what more am properly ashamed) I am really predes- gular board. This again shows you the pains- can one want? tined to review a game featuring the Virgin taking love of details used here. In addition Queen. As a certain Mister Friedrich Schiller to the usual Kramer track we use a second, more than four Woods you get 2 extra tiles also picked up the topic in this drama Maria parallel track for keeping track of our pres- and for more than 4 fountains (=garden) Stuart I consider myself to be in excellent tige points. And then there are six areas on you receive the Queen piece. The owner of company. the board which are clearly laid out despite the Queen is responsible for advancing the Let me start with the cover of the game their number. In the middle you find the marker for the rounds and receives a victory that shows two English aristocrats. This defi- track for the game rounds, which is used to point in each turn. (The Queen piece re- nitely is not my taste and - for me - is more a monitor the three decades of the game and minds me more of the Venus of Willendorf deterrent instead of enticing me to buy the also features three scoring areas. than of a Royal Highness). game. The title itself is not too felicitous, ei- On the first double pages of the rule book ther. My first thought was that a legasthenic you find a list of the game components and Now the game really gets going. Each did write something about problems; it instructions for how to prepare the game, turn allows you one action only and that’s took a while for my synapses to snap into structured into 16 steps. This also leaves where the dilemma starts. You have seven “English” mode and to realize that I am look- nothing to be desired. As I usually am more choices and - as is normal for such games - ing at the English word for aristocrat. prone to criticize instead of praise my enthu- you would prefer to be able to do them all siasm is a bit embarrassing. In case someone at the same time. Regardless of your choice Anyway, 3-5 members of the English aris- is asking - no, I am not paid by Pegasus (un- of action you can, in your turn only, trade tocracy fight for the favour of the said Virgin fortunately), and I am not related by blood landscape tiles in a ratio of 2:1 for other Queen using prestige and influence which or marriage to the designer, Dwight Sulli- landscape tiles and, should you happen to is expressed in the form of victory points. As van, and do not even know him personally. hold a Scandal Card, play them. those people in those times were not really But which of the seven various actions enamoured with working this is acquired by Let’s take a look at the course of the game should you decide on: enlarging one’s estates and by constructing itself. The game already received an award You can expand your estate by up to three magnificent buildings. The Church was an- back in 2009, when it achieved 1st place in tiles, will all the advantages mentioned ear- other very influential player in those times, the Hippodice Designers’ Competition. Let’s lier. Or you can construct a building. Build- so that it was very useful to stay in her good check if it has turned into the oldest story ings are already situated on the board at the books, too. Finally, bribery and capitalizing in the book or if Pegasus has dug up some start of the game. There are Castles, Palaces, on scandals were „part of the game“, too, treasure. Chapels and Follies (A kind of garden pavil- and useful tools. (Funny, why am I reminded First of all you set up screens that are rather ion). Well, there is a restriction for building, of something - I must have encountered stable and - for providing additional assis- which forbids you to set up a building adja- something like this somewhere, sometime). tance - have the sequence of scoring print- cent to a building of the same kind, neither All this is used to win the favour of the ed on the inside for all possible scorings. horizontally nor vertically nor diagonally. queen and to accrue most victory points. Due to the double-sided print on the head- As is the case for landscapes, buildings also My first impression, when the postman de- ers showing the different aristocratic titles earn you several kinds of bonuses. Castles livered the box: „ A heavy game“. The box you can adapt the screens to the gender introduce Men-at-Arms into the game; each weighs more than 2½ kilos and is filled to of players. At the beginning you receive 10 player has two of them. When you place the brim with games components. pounds; the advantage of the starting play- them on the estate of another player the act er is mitigated by giving all following players like Robber Barons and rob your opponent Believe it or not, 14 boards and a main in clockwise direction on Pound more than of money, tiles or the Queen herself. To build game board in two parts fill the box to the their immediate predecessor. In addition, a chapel is rewarded with a scandal card edge, and then there is a deck of cards and every player is receiving two tokens for Ac- which you can choose from the three top a black luxurious velvet bag with compo- quire Land and Tax; I will get back to their ones in the stack. The palace replaces a cas- nents, already pre-sorted into Ziploc bags function later. Your future personal estate tle already built and results in the conquest (Tüten for for our German friends). And will be made up from four different kinds of of the Queen. That leaves the so called fol- there are even empty bags for the parts landscapes: First, the Fields which earn you lies. The expenses of 12 pounds for such a that come from the die cut sheets. Whoever money (1 Pound) when such a tile is placed; folly is exorbitantly high and you must have was responsible for that equipment: Please second, the Woods, which assists you to ac- two expanded identical landscape or three step forward and take your accolade. When quire another additional tile, which is drawn different ones before you can build a folly. I compare this to some sham packages from randomly; third, the Fountain, which earns And you must be quick to acquire one, be- the supermarket - and unfortunately from you prestige when the Masquerade Ball is cause you score 12 victory points for the

Color codes, target groups, features, icons and GABIS are 14 ISSUE 446 / JANUARY 2013 explained on page 5 and at the bottom of pages 40 and 41 www.gamesjournal.at NOBLEMEN t OUR REVIEW

first one that is build, and that amount de- creases with each additional one that is set up. And, finally, there are only four of them all in all. Your third choice to act could be to buy a bribe token. The price for those is 2 pounds for each and you can only buy five of them in one turn. But they do immediately earn you a victory point, and are quite useful, too, as you will see. , but for them are exor- bitant with 12 pounds. Now for the choices that each player can only make once in each decade: With the help of the Tax token that you receive at the start of the game - you remember? - you get money for each field, farm and man-at-arms in opposing farms, in effect a mini scoring of your own estate. In addition you are given 1 pound for each bribe marker that you hand back. The Acquire Land token works in a similar way, it rings you additional tiles to expand your estate instead of money, but you get money also for bribe tokens that you hand in. Which leaves Donations for the church, also possible only once in a de- cade. This earns you 1 victory point for each landscape tile that you hand in, with the restriction that the church is accepting only a maximum of three tiles per landscape va- riety. You do not want to be impudent! And finally, you could choose Leisure, that is, to pass. Even that earns you one victory points, so to say, dole of those times. those that are encircled by land and one ex- INFORMATION tra point is scored for adjacent chapels. PLAYERS: When we have dealt with the action phase Designer: Dwight Sullivan 3-5 and - if applicable - moved the marker of the Before the next decade starts the building Artist: C. Stephan, O. Schlemme AGE: respective decade, the marker twice arrives on the board are replenished, donations to Price: ca. 45 Euro 12+ on a spot representing a Masquerade Ball. the church are removed and each player is Publisher: Pegasus 2012 TIME: This triggers a reshuffling of cards. First, you given a scandal card; those scandal cards www.pegasus.de 120+ lose your title and are assessed for receiving can be used in your turn one by one, but a new one. The deciding factor for your new can be used in bulk at the Masquerade Ball title is your prestige. This is accrued from for prestige points, but in this case without EVALUATION the facilities on your estate, represented the bonus advantage. Strategy game by fountains, gardens and palaces and can With friends Version: de be influenced by discarding bribe markers This plenitude of choices may sound a bit Rules: de + en or scandal cards. The current owner of the intimidating, but in reality is rather simple. In-game text: no Queen begins and then in turn all players E very quickly gained access to the game, Comments: ‘prestige is calculated. In case of a tie you and, for assistance, each player is given 2 Exemplary rule book * Pretty design * cards which summarize all possibilities. Amazing components * Varied games must make do with one step down. Now play the the titles are handed out; you need a An excellent assistance which I have often meagre 2 prestige points for a Viscount, six wished for in many other games. Noblemen Compares to: is a game with lots of strategic choices, mar- Placement and resources management points for an Earl, 10 points for an Marques games and 14 points to become a Duke. As Duke vellous components and exemplary rules and Marques are only given out once it is which in my opinion should be rewarded Other editions: Tasty Minstrel Games, USA very important to be in front on the track. with „Essener Feder“. The then 1st position With the title being awarded you also get in the Designers Competition was definitely an award in the guise of victory points, the well-earned. One remark from my games amount equals half of the necessary pres- group was: „As regards to the quality of its tige points; and you also get a reduction in flair this game reminds me of Village!” and price for future building costs. The round this, I think, is an accolade. What a pity that it marker is moved and the round continues got a bit overlooked in the plenitude of new to the left of the owner of the Queen. releases, because it would have merited a lot more attention. From me, it receives a One step before the end of the decade wholehearted recommendation to buy it. there is a scoring of buildings for castles and  My rating: palaces: Three victory points are awarded to Rudolf Ammer

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INTERVIEW WITH KLAUS TEUBER FOUR TIMES WINNER OF GAME OF THE YEAR

The interview with Klaus Teuber (KT) was con- box. When this spirit inhabits the box, that ducted on October 19th, 2012, during Spiel means, you open the box and spread out 12 at Essen the components and then there is some flair that captivates all. When the game WIN: Good day, Herr Teuber. manages to turn all heads towards the KT: Good day, too. board then it is a good game. But it can be WIN: The first question goes far back into anything; it can be a dice game; it can be a your childhood. Which board game was pure strategy game; you cannot fasten it to the first one that you played and how old components or rules, but you must simply were you at that time? check how the game relates to players. KT: I think, Mensch ärgere dich nicht was WIN: You mean it must just get to you? the first one; and later then I played Römer KT: Exactly; there are games that captivate gegen Karthager. That was the first board some, but not others. There rarely is a game game that I did actively ask for and that I that captivates all and sundry. So, a game did play, too! It came from Hausser. might be not so hot for someone and super (laughs). Why did you kick me out now WIN: Ok, well, Römer gegen Karthager is a for someone else. and why did you not kick the one before game that I have never heard about. WIN: In which game of yours did you man- him? Especially in Mensch ärgere dich nicht KT: Well, that is a Cosim on the lowest and age to create that special flair especially there are endless possibilities for deep psy- most simple level. In those times, there well? Or which ones, would you say, are chological analysis. were Hausser figures, very beautifully those where is most apparent? WIN: And how did you handle this with painted and rather expensive. You had to KT: Of course and very much so in Catan. your kids? place them and then move them forward I think it is not for nothing that it is so suc- KT: My children are grown up now. We al- to try and conquer opposing flags. cessful, as so many people like it. But I have ready played Catan, also tested it. I am very WIN: A predecessor of Risk, maybe? made games very different from Catan, happy that my children still like to play KT: Yes, a bit, maybe, in a broader sense. where I also would say, okay, I managed to games today, as adults, which shows that I WIN: How old were you then? do it with those. Not many of them, but Ent- did not exaggerate. KT: I was eight or nine. decker surely is one of them, or Löwenherz, WIN: Gather three personalities important WIN: Well, how much did this game im- and also Elasund. I have never published a to you, from modern times back the the press you? And which game has influenced game that did not captivate at least some dawn of history, at a table and tell me what you most in your life? of the people. game you would play with them? KT: Well, yes, this Römer/Karthager game WIN: What is the typical creation process KT: Today, very up-to-date, I would play a has impressed me a lot, I was eleven or for your games from your first idea to the game of Catan with Barack Obama and his twelve at that time, and had a bit more first prototype? opponent Mitt Romney. Take a look at how pocket money to buy those figurines. We KT: Well. That was surely different in earlier the trade and how they interact together. have then laid out landscapes in my room, years than it is know. But what was always People always reveal much more in a game on the floor, with wool - Mountains, plains, the same, I believe, is that I always have a and then TV should broadcast how the play woods etc. and then used more figurines desire to experience something in a game. and I think, that we would change the mind and invented new rules, “how far can a And when such a wish is very strong at the of quite a few people on this election. horse move” and “how far can a normal back of your mind, there are always oppor- WIN: You often visit USA, also because of figurine move” and then we played very tunities when it goes clack; when you get your son, don’t you? intensely and I started for the first time to associations and then the first ideas evolve. KT: I was there four times, but I am not a make rules for a game. So, from this angle, And then the development starts. And de- person who likes travelling in an airplane. I would say, this game impressed me most. velopment for me is that I write a concept. My oldest son lives in USA and does a lot of WIN: So you made your own rules or this And this concept is continually changed, things there. My youngest one has joined game? amended, shortened and when I then feel the company here in Germany. KT: Yes, I did. Later, at roughly fourteen or that the concept is harmonious, we could WIN: Would you invite a fourth person the fifteen years of age, I “disfigured” Malefiz. I try it, and then I go and make up a proto- games table? thought the game wonderful at that time type. KT: Why not Mrs. Merkel? and thought that it should take a bit lon- WIN: When you think back to your child- WIN: And do you have hobbies on which ger and so I added a few more rows and a hood once again, how was it with your you like to spend time? few more opportunities for blockades until parents? Did they encourage you to play KT: No direct hobbies. To develop and cre- I noticed that it is okay as it was. (Laughs.) games? Did your parents play games them- ate games was always that what I wanted And then there was a long break and re- selves? most to do. Catan is successful and I do a started at my early thirties! KT: No, not really; the started later in their lot for it to ensure that it remains successful, WIN: What makes a game a good game for life, when they were about fifty or sixty, to that it is still in the market and available. We you? play Mensch ärgere dich, and that ended have so far not done TV commercial, so we KT: Well, I always talk about the spirit in a in some heated duels with their partners need other creative ideas in order to keep it

Color codes, target groups, features, icons and GABIS are 16 ISSUE 446 / JANUARY 2013 explained on page 5 and at the bottom of pages 40 and 41 www.gamesjournal.at KLAUS TEUBER t ENCOUNTERS

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Color codes, target groups, features, icons and GABIS are 18 ISSUE 446 / JANUARY 2013 explained on page 5 and at the bottom of pages 40 and 41 www.gamesjournal.at KLAUS TEUBER t ENCOUNTERS

in the stores. One of them was an idea that that is the most popular one, is that what train or son then not. And I am very happy came from my son Benny. We did a Catan people like. You can see this in the Catan about that. (Laughs). At a Fair it is different, app. Aside from games I like to listen to World online. And the colonies have been there I am known to some of the visitors. It’s music and a like to move and to mount my well received, too. Why not simplify this a different from show business. bicycle. But none of those are real hobbies. bit? You can load up ships; you can sail, un- WIN: Among people who do not like Catan, WIN: How does your perfect holiday look load, and load. And this resulted in a new too; there’s a rumor that a few of those ex- like? How and where do you relax best? expansion that will be published in spring. ist, too (smiles) KT: On any island. (Laughs again). We also Explorers and pirates for Catan. And that KT: (grins) They tend to avoid me, they take do bicycle tours. In Austria we biked along takes up a lot of time for development, a a huge deviation. the Danube. But for longer holidays we al- very long time, because there are missions. Well, at the press conference of Kosmos, ways pick an island, most recently Madeira. And then there is Princes of Catan, another there is always one in Autumn, I said, well And that then is very relaxing; we go hiking example; the re-development of this was all those that do not like Catan, don’t pay a bit and read a lot and do not take a com- something that we spent years on, and we attention now, there is a new expansion for puter with us. That is very important. had most intense discussions on this topic. Catan (laughs). WIN: And now for a daring vision of the This does not leave a lot of room for other WIN: 2010 you have been awarded As d’Or future! What’s your opinion, how could things. And the second thing is, when I do at Cannes for your life’s work? playing games improve the world? Can it publish something, it is evaluated against KT: Yes, that has been said. But I have never contribute something and what can the Catan. I am no newcomer who can publish seen it, the As d’Or, I mean. (Laughs) leaders of this world, Obama, Merkel, and any game and the reaction is “wow”. It has WIN: Really? Did the never present it to others, contribute? to be something very special. There are you? KT: Well, I think, games have contributed wonderful games in the market today, for KT: No. I think it was more like that they a lot, because if you play and if you play a instance, worker placement games. Why said, we would like to have Monsieur Teu- lot then you have one characteristic, espe- should I create the eleventh worker place- ber at Cannes, let’s tell him he will get an As cially so, and that is being tolerant, because ment game (laughs)? But I am at a point d’Or. (Laughs). Well, is a funny thing, I don’t you accept that someone else can be bet- at the moment where I do have a bit more get it anymore, in the aftermath. I think it‘s ter for once and that you yourself are not time for new developments, so let’s see. But wonderful that Wolfgang Kramer has been always the winner or the greatest. And I it has to cross a certain hurdle for me! honored for his life’s work, but I think I am think that that is something important, still to you for it. I am no youngster any- that children very often do not learn and WIN: So, there will be something new for more, but I would like to keep working at experience- And also, that you can accept Catan? my life’s work for a few years. (Laughs) and respect the foibles of others and that KT: Yes, an expansion! WIN: Finally, are coming to Austria soon? you realize that doing something different WIN: And that will be the last one? Maybe for the Games Fair? is absolutely normal, that one’s own behav- KT: Well, I said that already for the third one KT: Well, I have been there a few times, it’s ior is not necessarily the norm. And I think (laughs), after seven years, yes; but such a been some time now since the last time. that the essence of playing is subconscious lot did amass! When I go, then there must be a reason learning and that that has always touched WIN: And Princes of Catan? How far do you for it, and it is sometimes a bit stressful. something in people. Games don’t work want to take this? How many expansions Maybe there will be something special for when you lift an admonishing finger, and will there be for that? or in Vienna. I have done a lot of research pedagogical games are different, most KT: Well, I need a break now, for the mo- on Vienna and then there would come a people avoid them. They do not want to be ment it ends with this second expansion; time when it would be necessary to go to taught something, they want to have fun. which does not mean that I will not have Vienna. WIN: Today one tries to camouflage those other ideas in two or three years, that there WIN: That would please us, of course. those pedagogical games with fun might be a topic for some time. You can’t KT: Well, nothing is decided yet, I need to KT: When it stays in the background, it’s simply mix a few cards together, you must do some research beforehand still, which okay. have a topic and the cards must tell the takes time, too! A bit like Settlers of Nürn- WIN: We have dug around a bit. One story of the topic. berg, maybe. That is also something that I doesn’t have to dig deep on the net nowa- WIN: Are those cards developed solely by like to do, get biographies or history into a days. You have been award Spiel der Spiele you or do you have some assistance? game. four times, 1995 for Catan was the last one, KT: I write a concept for this, too. That is WIN: One realizes this when playing your and four times Deutscher Spielepreis, 1997, basically already a complete expansion. But games that you try to give it a historical and as far as we could find, twice the Award the editing itself is done by others. And they context. for Children’s Games. Are you somewhat dissect it and reassemble it, dissect it again KT: In some games one can interlock that disappointed that it has been quite some and reassemble it again, because testing more intensely, in others only at the sur- time since your last awards? That you did is a lot of expenditure, due to the different face. Catan’s mainstay is that harvesting, not win another? combinations with other cards and expan- trading and building was always essential KT: No, because I did not have anything sions. I am very happy that I could fall back for the history of mankind and a central that would have to be taken into account. on experienced players for this. Well, I make topic. I had Löwenherz, Elasund; they are all set a the concept myself, but I was not alone in WIN: Thank you very much, Herr Teuber. bit in the orbit of Catan. Elasund got fifth or the editorial work. KT: You are welcome. sixth place in Deutscher Spielepreis. But, as WIN: Aside of games fairs, are you recog- I said already, Catan takes up a lot of space, nized by people when you go somewhere The interview was conducted by Astrid Willim and also, as a fact, a lot of time. I am at the privately? and Christian Huber.  moment moving in a direction , where I KT: No. Well, where I live, in Rossdorf, peo- Astrid Willim und Christian Huber soy, okay, people love to play at discover- ple know about it there, and they’ve gotten ing, and there is a bit of that in Catan and used to it. But normally, when I am on a

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not. When the active player INFORMATION cannot give all three answers in PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: 5 SECOND RULE time, the question passes to the 3-6 12+ 60+ DON’T THINK, TALK! next player who again has five seconds for his three answers, Designer: not stated but he is not allowed to use an Artist: not stated Price: ca. 25 Euro A stack of cards, six markers and The active player is asked a answer already given by the Publisher: Moses. Verlag 2012 a long tube that goes by the question starting with “name previous player. If necessary, the www.moses-verlag.de name of Spiral Timer - marbles three….” by his neighbor; If you question is passed around from rolling through this Spiral Timer can provide three answers on player to player until it returns to EVALUATION provide the 5 seconds that have time, that is, in the ominous five the first active player - in this case given the name to the game; five seconds of time the marbles run he can move his marker one step. Quiz and talking game With friends seconds for finding three an- down the Spiral Timer, you can The active player can use action Version: de swers to a question, so, talk! You advance your marker one step. cards for passing on or switching Rules: de en put your marker at the starting When only one player doubts a question. When your marker In-game text: yes spot and are given two Switch an answer, the majority decides sits on a danger zone you must Comments: cards and two Pass On cards. if the answer is acceptable or answer the next question - re- Not a quiz game in the established sense of the gardless if active player or the word * Good selection of question was passed to you; if questions * Nice mixture of not you must miss your next standard mechanisms turn. The first player to reach the Compares to: All quiz games finish area wins the game. Other editions: Basically, this is a quiz game, but English edition at University Games only in case of some questions; mostly the demand is for cre- ative speed; for instance for three things you have never done, or you need to be up-to-date on the latest films. Funny, witty, en- tertaining, good! 

When your own team does not INFORMATION guess the term correctly within PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: ACTIVITY LIFESTYLE the time frame given by the 4-16 15+ 90+ GARDEN SCISSORS AS A PANTOMIME! timer each team in turn has one chance to guess correctly. If it Designer: P. Catty, E. Führer does so, this team can move its Artist: not stated Price: ca. 30 Euro The game mechanics in this to the term. The ways to present marker. When the term is not Publisher: Piatnik 2011 latest version of Activity is the the term are the same as usual; guessed correctly by any team, www.piatnik.com same as in all other versions of you must draw, explain or give the task is forfeit. In turn the first the game - you are tasked with a pantomime. Each team draws performer of each team pres- EVALUATION getting your team to guess as a card. The first performer of the ents the first term on the card, many terms as possible to be first team tries to get across the then another player presents Communication game With friends first to cross the finish line with first term on the card with the the second term and finally yet Version: de the team marker. For success- method stated next to the term, another player the third term Rules: de fully explained terms you may When the term is guessed cor- on the card. Then a new card is In-game text: yes move forward your marker by rectly, the marker of the team drawn by each team. The terms Comments: the number of points stated next moves forward accordingly. on the cards come from the top- Approved mechanisms * New topics * Very well ics of Food, Cooking, Indulgence, chosen, creative terms * Fine Art and all beautiful things Classy design in life - all in all there are 900 Compares to: terms from Eyelash Curler, Full- All other editions of Activity Body Scanner to Miso Soup and Other editions: Currently none pantomimic representation of a Sticky Tape to Spurdog and Fuel Gauge. As all previous edition this one, too, is an attractive mix of terms, is fun and a challenge for hidden talents to perform a pantomime of a Picnic Basket! 

Color codes, target groups, features, icons and GABIS are 1220 ISSUE 446 / JANUARY 2013 explained on page 5 and at the bottom of pages 40 and 41 www.gamesjournal.at AGRICOLA / ANGRY BIRDS SPIEL t PLAYED FOR YOU

Fences, Walls, Building Materials, INFORMATION Expand, Stalls, Feeding Trough, PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: AGRICOLA Millpond for Reed, Breed Pigs 2 10+ 30+ DIE BAUERN UND DAS LIEBE VIEH and Sheep, Stables for five ani- mals, Special buildings, Breeding Designer: Uwe Rosenberg Cows and Pigs or Breeding Horse Artist: Klemens Franz Price: ca. 20 Euro You breed sheep, cattle and er and Round - each action can and Sheep. Publisher: Lookout Spiele 2012 horses and house the animals be used only once per round - as Actions spaces you mark with www.lookout-spiele.de in stables, pastures and expan- well as Home Phase and Breed- a worker you must use. In the sions to your farm adhering to ing Phase of animals. The decid- breeding phase you acquire a EVALUATION maximum capacities; you ex- ing element is the Work Phase: new animal for every two of a pand stalls to stables and Cot- Players alternate for turns and kind that you already own, maxi- Placement game For families tages to Half-Timbered Houses choose one of the actions de- mum 1 sheep, one pig, one cow Version: de to and you have three workers picted on the board, the can and 1 horse; animals that you Rules: de en es fr kr pl at your disposal. The phases of use three workers for one action cannot accommodate go back In-game text: no the game are Refill Phase, Work per worker: Starting player + 1 into stock. To accommodate Comments: Phase with one action per work- Wood, 3 Wood. 1 Stone, 2 Stones, animals you may relocate them. Simplified Two-Player version of Agricola * Topic After eight rounds you win with of the core game nicely most points from animals, spe- transferred * Flair of the cial points, farm expansions and core game very well transported buildings. Compares to: This is a fantastic game for two Agricola players and a wonderful entry Other editions: into the topic of Agricola; despite 999 Games, Netherlands, Filosofia Edition, Canada; Hobby Japan; the simple mechanism planning HomoLudicus, Spain; Lacerta, Poland; and preliminary actions are im- Z-Man Games, USA portant as is keeping an eye on your opponent! An independent game, entertaining, tactical and with attractive components; all in all harmonious and well- made! 

that you must use. INFORMATION The rules for freestyle are: The PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: ANGRY BIRDS SPIEL castle can be build upwards and 2-4 5+ var TOPPLE PIGS IN FREESTYLE MODE sideways, but not in-depth, no block can sit behind another Designer: not stated block. Distances between parts Artist: not stated Price: ca. 20 Euro Cult, transferred from computer card from one of those levels, can be maximum 5 cm and the Publisher: Mattel 2012 to board, playing on a table in- the next player builds the castle castle cannot be wider than for www.mattel.de stead of with an app - this game for use and you yourself try to long blocks, that is 30,5 cm; pigs has been shaped after the app; topple the castle. In the free- and bonus parts must sit on oth- EVALUATION you play in three levels of diffi- style mode you build the castle er parts of the castle, not on the culty or in freestyle mode. anyway you like while adhering playing surface. The Mission card Action-Spiel For children The mission cards are sorted by to basic rules, in the other levels shows all birds that you must use Version: multi difficulty level and separately you build exactly as to specifi- to topple the construction, and Rules: de fr it nl stacked face-down; the point cations. For the free variant the the order of using them; the cat- In-game text: no cards are set out next to them. card only depicts the building apult must be at a distance of at Comments: For levels 1 to 3 you choose a parts, pigs, bonus parts and birds least 30 cm from the front side of Good implementation of the app * Trains observa- the castle. Pigs on the castle are tions, distance estimation, deemed to have been toppled hand-eye coordination * when they fall off the construct. Freestyle mode demands creativity in building If you topple all pigs, you score Compares to: according to the mission card; if Dexterity Games you are first to top 1000 points, Other editions: you win the game. Angry Birds Knock on Wood, Mattel A mega hit as app, fun on the USA living room table, too, setting up and toppling over is great fun! For freestyle your building abilities are as important as your ability to hit your target. 

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with berries, you can pick them INFORMATION all and take them. When Sch- PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: BEEREN KLAU‘N nabelgrün’s move ends on an 2-4 4+ 15+ MIT SCHNABELGRÜN empty bush, you can turn over any empty bush and turn it into Designer: Jacques Zeimet a swamp. When Schnabelgrün’s Artist: Johann Rüttinger Price: ca. 20 Euro Magic Raven „Schnabelgrün“ bush of your choice, the blueber- move ends in a swamp, the ac- Publisher: Noris Spiele 2012 wanted to speed up the ripen- ries are randomly and unevenly tive player- the one who moved www.noris-spiele.de ing of his favorite berries and has distributed on the remaining him - must save Schnabelgrün transformed them into giant ber- bushes, maximum 3 berries on and put two berries from his EVALUATION ries! We want to pick those ber- a bush. You turn up a card from personal stock on the swamp ries and must sometimes save the face-down stack and imple- tile. IF there are already berries Roll & move For children Schnabelgrün who is helping ment it: When the card shows on the swamp, you need not Version: de us and sometimes lands in the a number, 1, 2 or 3, you jump add any. When the card you Rules: de swamp instead of on a blueberry Schnabelgrün as many bushes turned up shows Schnabelgrün In-game text: no bush. forward. with a berry in his peak, Schna- Comments: Schnabelgrün is placed on any When this move ends on a bush belgrün does not move and you Based on the Schnabelgrün stories * Enchanting illus- may steal a berry from another trations * Simple rules player. When you cannot place Compares to: berries on a swamp the player Collecting games who owns most berries places Other editions: two of them, has saved Schna- Currently none belgrün and wins the game. Schnabelgrün is a character in a children’s book and has his first appearance here as a char- acter in a game and he is a hit: enchanting illustrations, pretty components and a nice topic combine into a children’s game just as it should be. 

card and it currently the highest INFORMATION card in the pyramid you take the PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: CIRCUS GRANDIOSO Show Master token. The rules for 2-4 8+ 20+ AN ARTISTIC CARD GAME the pyramid are: Only one kind of animal and only one clown Designer: Florian Racky in each level of the pyramid; the Artist: J. Penka, F. Weihnacht Price: ca. 10 Euro The Circus shows the „Great of two actions: Exchange a card pyramid is laid out in a given or- Publisher: Racky Spiele 2012 Pyramid of Acrobatic Animals“ from your hand for a face-down der of animals, Elephant at the www.racky-spiele.de today! There are 55 animal cards card or place a fitting card into bottom, then in decreasing numbers from 10 x the pyramid; you take this one Rhinos, Camels, Ponies, Tigers, EVALUATION Elephant to 1x Seal plus 8 Clown from your hand or from the Bears, Lions, Crocodiles, Chim- cards. You lay out one elephant face-down cards on the table panzees and the Seal on top. Card placement game For families as a starting card, all other cards or take the top card from the You can only place an animal in Version: multi are shuffled together and each draw-pile: If you cannot place a higher level when it is support- Rules: de en player is dealt seven cards, the those face-down cards you put ed by two animals beneath; you In-game text: no rest is draw pile. them down on the table, again cannot place a clown as highest Comments: In your turn you can choose one face-down. But if you can place a card and you must always place Basically simple rules * Given sequence of animal the highest possible card. When * Discarded cards allow someone places his last card into conclusions on animals due the pyramid or puts the seal on to placement rules top of the pyramid, the game Compares to: Pingu-Party ends and the winner is the player Other editions: currently holding the Show Mas- Currently none ter Token. Circus Grandioso is a simple placement game, the allure is in the memory component of hidden cards; you can draw some conclusions on animals underneath cards that were dis- carded because they could not be placed. 

Color codes, target groups, features, icons and GABIS are 1422 ISSUE 446 / JANUARY 2013 explained on page 5 and at the bottom of pages 40 and 41 www.gamesjournal.at CRAZY CREATURES OF DR. DOOM / CUT THE ROPE t PLAYED FOR YOU

mutation card on a card with the INFORMATION same symbol and same color, in- CRAZY CREATURES OF PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: DR. DOOM dependent of (+) or (-) on the ma- 2-4 7+ 20+ HELLCAT OR MINIMALIZER chine card. When you play a card of equal value you must either Designer: Michael Schacht turn over a machine card of your Artist: Dennis Lohhausen Price: ca. 8 Euro Many stories are told in the vil- 12 cards, 8 cards form a reserve choice or force another player Publisher: White Goblin Games 12 lage about crazy creatures in and the rest of the cards is set to draw a card from the reserve. whitegoblingames.nl the mansion of Dr. Doom, and aside. In turn you play a card next When someone places his last there is a grain of truth in them, to a machine, or if this is impos- card, all players have one more EVALUATION because Dr. Doom is asking us sible, pass your turn. Cards are turn and then the round ends for help in his extravagant ex- played next to a machine of the and all note their penalty points Card game For families periments to create crazy crea- same color, in case of (+) with the for remaining cards; if you have Version: multi tures by getting rid of our cards same or higher value than the no cards in hand you can delete Rules: de en fr it nl in hand. top card already next to the ma- three of your penalty points. In-game text: no Four machine cards are laid out chine; or of equal or lower value Then all cards are shuffled and Comments: (+) side up, players are dealt 10 or in case of (-). Or you can play a you deal cards for a new round, Witty illustrations * Nice family game * Some tactics all machine cards are turned to in turning over machine show their (+) side. After as many cards rounds as there are players you Compares to: win with the lowest total of pen- UNO und all card shedding games alty points. Other editions: Stronghold Games, USA Simple and simply fun, with lovingly drawn cards, the frame around the creatures has been named Creature’s Cage, the rules feature funny drawings, too, and - using equal value and turning over of machine cards - you can even introduce some tactic into the game. 

you take one of your candy discs INFORMATION and place it into the rope. Then PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: CUT THE ROPE you pull the rope back and let 2 6+ 15+ CONNECT 4 go, the further you pull the rope back the further the candy flies. Designer: not stated If you do not hit the rack - that Artist: not stated Price: ca. 20 Euro Cut the Rope is an App in which table; the story of Om Nom and is the name of the game unit in Publisher: Hasbro 2012 you must feed sweets to an his craving for sweets is used as this version - then you can have www.hasbro.de Alien Being named Om Nom. background story for Connect 4. another go. But if you manage To feed him you make use of The little green monster, or, to be to sink the candy into the rack EVALUATION other things, like cutting through more exact, its head, decorates your turn ends and passes to ropes or use Air Cushions or the Tray at the bottom of the your opponent. If you manage Dexterity game For children Magical Hats or Anti-Gravity game unit; the usual Connect to be first to arrange four of your Version: de Buttons. 4 unit is carrying an add-on, the candy discs in a row, regardless if Rules: de en Cut the Rope Connect 4 transfers so-called rope. One player takes horizontally, vertically or diago- In-game text: no the App from the virtual world the red candies, the other one nally, you win and can release Comments: to the real world and the games the yellow ones. In your turn the candy from the rack to feed Standard mechanism * App topic for a background Om Nom by dropping them into story * Nice implementa- his mouth, that is, the tray. tion details Connect 4, as you know it and Compares to: love, garnished with a back- All editions of Connect 4 ground story and a little twist Other editions: Cut the Rope Connect 4, Hasbro USA that makes a connection to the new media of App and hand- held device - what more could you wish for! The nice design, perfectly adapted to the topic can lure casual games or new- comers to the world of board games to join you at the table. Up-to-date brand and topic management! 

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playing piece depicted on the INFORMATION symbol die moves first, either PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: DER VERZAUBERTE TURM Robin or Rabenhorst; the num- 2-4 5+ 25+ ROBIN VERSUS RABENHORST ber die determines the number of steps, red for Robin and blue Designer: Inka + Markus Brand for the Magician. Rabenhorst Artist: Rolf Vogt Price: ca. 27 Euro The Dark Magician Rabenhorst jump for joy! knows where the key is hidden, Publisher: Drei Magier Spiele 12 has locked the princess into a One player embodies Raben- but he must first walk along the www.dreimagier.de tower and hidden the key. Rob- horst, the others all embody separate board, so that Robin’s in wants to free the princess and Robin. The player embodying team has a little advantage from EVALUATION starts searching for the key, but Rabenhorst hides - while all the start. Occupied spots are left Rabenhorst is also setting out for other players close their eyes - out and you cannot take any Roll & Move For children the key cache, because he wants the key beneath one of the tiles. shortcuts. When you hear “clack” Version: multi to beat Robin to it. But the key One of the Robin players and on a spot the key is found and at- Rules: de en fr it nl alone is not sufficient to free the the Rabenhorst player roll dice; tached to the playing piece; you In-game text: no princess, you must put it into the robin the number die, Raben- pick it up and try it in one of the Comments: right lock to make the princess horst the symbol die. Then the locks on the tower; if it works the Very pretty components and design * Nice „oh“ princess jumps for joy and is free. effect due to jumping prin- If not, the Magician hides the kea cess * Good combination of again and a new search starts. mechanisms You win, if you free the princess, Compares to: Roll & Move games to collect team Robin or the Magician. something As in all those enchanting games Other editions: from Drei Magier Spiele the mix- Currently none ture of simple elements makes a great game; a bit of dice rolling, a bit of memory, a surprising me- chanic or magnetic effect - abra- cadabra - a wonderful game! 

over cards, but need not do so, INFORMATION and 3) lay out a triplet of clues PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: DI RENJIE face down, should you have one 2-6 10+ 30+ DETECTION IN ANCIENT CHINA in hand after 2) and then draw 0-2 cards. So all players try to Designer: Ta-Te Wu collect clues, that is, three cor- Artist: Haiyu Zjao, Ta-Te Wu Price: not stated Di Renjie was a famous politician down and without looking at it responding cards of a type, in Publisher: STGS/Sunrise Tornado 12 and detective in Tang Dynasty and place it underneath the box order to find out which cards are www.sunrisetornado.com times in China. In his wake we are and then each player is shown beneath the box. meant to find out victim, weap- two cards for further informa- When eight sets have been col- EVALUATION on and crime scene of a planned tion. Then cards are dealt and lected, the game ends and you murder before it happens. the active player can in his turn jot down your solution before Deduction game With friends There are three cards each for six 1) uncover clues, that is, reveal the cards underneath the box Version: multi victims, five weapons and five the top card of a triplet already are revealed. When all players as Rules: cn en + de fr it jp nl crime scenes. At the start of the laid out, 2) ask for card type or a team have found the solution, In-game text: no game you remove on card per card number of still unrevealed each player scores points for his Comments: type - as stated in the rules - face clues, other players can hand correct conclusion and collected Includes variant „Assassin“ for five and six players * triplets, and you win with the Attractive design * Unusual highest score. When the solution combination of mecha- has not been deduced, all players nisms * You can withhold information despite a common target lose together. for all players Di Renjie is an elegant little game, Compares to: highly interesting due to the re- Cluedo, Alibi and other deduction vealing of clue triplets, which you games based on cards seen Other editions: can kind of water down with th3 Currently none “suspect” card and due to the not having to hand over information despite a common goal of find- ing the solution together. 

Color codes, target groups, features, icons and GABIS are 24 ISSUE 446 / JANUARY 2013 explained on page 5 and at the bottom of pages 40 and 41 www.gamesjournal.at DOG ROYAL / DRAGI DRACHE t PLAYED FOR YOU

supplemented in Dog Royal as INFORMATION follows: In each round five cards PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: DOG ROYAL are dealt - the number of cards 2-6 8+ 45+ NOW IT’S OUR TURN TO BITE! in each round does not change - and you play your markers with Designer: J. Schmidauer-König the marked side up. You start Artist: not stated Price: ca. 16 Euro Dog! This is a cult movement of your markers, you must quit with one marker in the starting Publisher: Schmidt Spiele 2012 game in the tradition of Ludo, for the round, your cards are for- zone, your markers do have a www.schmidtspiele.de Pachisi and MÄDN. You play in feit. Markers on occupied finish ranking order - King, Knight, Bur- a team and try to get your own spaces are defeated, markers gher, Jester - and can only over- EVALUATION four markers into the finish spac- that you overtake are not. When take markers of the same or of es as fast as you can. You move a marker is overtaken by using a lower rank, unless you use green Movement with cards For families your markers with cards, the 7 it is defeated, too. Card values cards. Each marker has a special Version: multi number of cards used in each must be used in total for a move, ability: The King is only defeated Rules: de fr it round varies. Team partners if necessary you have to pass by by Kings and moves with cards In-game text: no swap a card face-down in each the finish. 1 to 7. The Knight is not blocked Comments: round. If you cannot move any Those basic rules for dog are by starting spots occupied by Version of Dog * You can play also play Dog * the same color, a Burgher jumps Harmonious extension from one special spot to the next of the basic rules * Nice and the Jester can relinquish up components to 2 points at the finish. Compares to: Dog, MÄDN for the main game In this version of Dog Royal, too, mechanics Dog remains a witty vexation Other editions: game for the whole family; well- Currently none known standard mechanism have been varied and expanded nicely; the special rules for the characters change the flow of the game considerably, planning is even more tricky now - a really royal enhancement of fun! 

chance to succeed in each turn. INFORMATION When the fire ball stays put in PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: DRAGI DRACHE the targeted area you pick up 2-4 4+ 15+ FIERY BREATH FOR THE FIRE BALL your dragon fruit chip and place it onto your dragon placement Designer: A. Wrede, C. Cantzler board. It is not enough that the Artist: Dynamo Ltd, Kinetic Price: ca. 25 Euro Drache Dragi and his friends a dragon placement board and fire ball touches the area, it must Publisher: Ravensburger 2012 want to breathe fire like the adult the corresponding dragon fruit remain in the area! Two of the www.ravensburger.de dragons, but for this they must chips; those chips are distrib- volcano areas are split in two practice and also nibble at fiery- uted fruit side showing in the by obstacles; chips behind the EVALUATION hot dragon fruits. If you puff the volcano areas. You start the bel- obstacles are harder to acquire, fire ball into the correct volcano lows: Then you place the fire ball therefore you can use those ar- Puffing game For children area you earn dragon fruits! into the air stream and puff it in eas as handicap areas for more Version: de The game is prepared, eventually the direction of and then into experienced players. By the way Rules: de fr nl with adult assistance, separation one of the volcano areas hold- you can turn the game box any In-game text: no barriers and obstacles need to ing one of your own dragon way you need, the fire ball will Comments: be placed. Each player is given fruit chips. You have only one remain in the air stream. If you Wonderful game concept * Fun for older children and are first to collect six of your adults, too * Trains estimat- own dragon fruit chips you win. ing distances and regula- For experienced puffers there is tion puffing strength a memo version with time limit; Compares to: First game of its kind the chips are placed face down Other editions: and, if you find one of your own, Dutch and French editions you can go on searching, but a chip is only safe if you stop your turn before the bellows stop. What an enchanting idea! And what challenge of estimating distances in combination with the necessary force of puffing! A huge log of fun, not only for kids! 

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each), among them Prince Doran INFORMATION and Princess Arianne Martell, DER EISERNE THRON PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: GoT: Areo Hotah, Ser Arys Oakheart 2-4 12+ 120+ DIE PRINZEN DER SONNE and the deadly Red Viper him- self. Then there are rules for a Designer: Lang, Petersen, French new game variant, „Civil War“, in Artist: Tomas Jedruszek Price: ca. 30 Euro Discover George R.R. Martin‘s ex- The Core Set of the game is a re- which players rival for the limited Publisher: Heidelberger 2012 citing universe where intrigues launch of the Collectible Card resources of one joint deck. You www.hds-fantasy.de can be more deadly than swords Game of the same name, you can play this version either as a or axes. „A Game of Thrones“ can play the Core Set alone or multiplayer Melee or as Joust EVALUATION tells an epic story about a rough expand the game with Chapter head-to-head. This variant does country with a dark legacy. You Packs. Besides those Chapter NOT replace the rules for Melee Extendable card game With friends are the head of one of dominant Packs there are the so-called de- or Joust from the Core Set. In Civil Version: de noble houses in the Realms of luxe expansions; this one here War players share one draw pile Rules: cn de en es fr it the Seven Kingdoms of Weste- focuses on the vindictive House and the discard and dead pile, In-game text: yes ros: Baratheon, Lannister, Stark, Martell; if features 180 cards (60 but bring their own plot deck to Comments: Targaryen, Greyjoy or Martell. different cards with three copies the game. The game mechanism Expansion for the Core Set * Focuses on House Martell “Shadow” can also be used for * Needs the Core Game the Princes of the Sun expansion. to play * Experience and This expansion with House familiarity with the system are of advantage Martell at its center fits seam- Compares to: lessly into the tense, intensive Game of Thrones: Der Eiserne Thron and thrilling tale about series of Das Kartenspiel and other LCGs events in Westeros, the Realm of Other editions: Chinese, English, Spanish, French and the Seven Kingdoms and about Italian editions the fight of the big houses for the Iron Throne, the Land of Ice and Fire whose song also fascinates when sung by a card game. 

lected three cards you must quit INFORMATION the game, the last one in play PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: GREGS TAGEBUCH wins. 2-6 8+ 30+ EIERMATSCH And if you now think that you have seen this before, you are of Designer: Jeff Kinney course correct: Gregs Eiermatsch Artist: Jeff Kinney Price: ca. 23 Euro This time with Greg it’s a Rupert other player, who in turn names uses the mechanisms well- Publisher: Kosmos 2012 Egg that nobody wants to hold a correct word corresponding to known from games like Tick Tack www.kosmos.de when it breaks, going crack in- the topic, and so on. IF you hold Bumm and Buzz-it! New in Gregs stead of a steady tok-tok-tok. the egg when it goes “crack” has Eiermatsch is just the context of EVALUATION The starting player turns up the lost the current round, takes the the questions to the books by first of a total of 40 topic cards topic card and is the next start- the author - yes, he designed the Vocabulary game For families and reads out the topic. Then ing player. Whoever names a game and wrote the books; they Version: de he switches on the Rupert Egg word for the second time, must all relate to a teenager’s world Rules: de en and names a word correspond- hold the egg until he can think and picture this world quite suc- In-game text: yes ing to the current topic. Then he of a correct new word or the egg cessfully from a teenager’s point Comments: quickly passes on the egg to an- goes crack. When you have col- of view. The run-time of the Topic nicely implemented in the drawings * Well- Rupert Egg Timer is very short chosen selection of words and so the game plays quickly * Fun using standard and you can easily play a return mechanisms match. If you do not own one of Compares to: Tick Tack Bumm, Buzz-it the predecessors mentioned you Other editions: can acquire a classic game prin- Pressman Toys, USA ciple with Gregs Eiermatsch; the selection of terms is well-done and attractive and adults, too, can come up with correct and fitting answers, the topic is a tag and nicely implemented in the drawings, but not really domi- nant. 

Color codes, target groups, features, icons and GABIS are 26 ISSUE 446 / JANUARY 2013 explained on page 5 and at the bottom of pages 40 and 41 www.gamesjournal.at GROUND FLOOR / HEY, FROGGY t PLAYED FOR YOU

main board and their personal INFORMATION boards; those chosen on the PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: GROUND FLOOR personal board are implemented 2-6 12+ 90+ CEO FOR A CAREER instantly and you can use results for other activities. Designer: David Short In the Conduct Business phase Artist: Ariel Seoane Price: not stated As a CEO of a budding company The phases of a round are In- you evaluate the areas of Con- Publisher: Tasty Minstrel 2012 you must allocate your time come, Hire Employees, Schedule sulting Firm, Advertising Agency, www.playtmg.com wisely in order to advance from Business, Conduct Business and Marketing Bonus, Warehouse, the ground floor to that coveted Reorganization. For the phase Factory, Retail Outlets, Economic EVALUATION corner office on the top floor. Schedule Business you assign Forecast and Construction Com- After copious preparations you time discs, the CEO provides pany. In the Reorganization Worker placement With friends play three parts of the game, four of them and each employee phase you can lay off employees, Version: en each comprising three rounds. three of them - and then players, acquire time discs and make all Rules: de en Each of the rounds consists of in descending order of their cur- preparations for the next round. In-game text: yes five phases with possibly several rent amount of prestige, assign At the end of the Conduct Busi- Comments: rounds per player. those discs to activities on the ness phase in the 9th round or Nice mixture of worker placement and resources when anybody builds his 6th management * Money level the game ends and you win and information need to with most prestige from modern- be balanced well * Very attractive implementation by 3D rise izations, remodeling, floors and of buildings sets of 3 money + 3 information. Compares to: A clear-cut game of resources All games with a mixture of worker placement and resources manage- management and worker place- ment ment, using the resources of Other editions: time, money and information. Us- Currently none ing an interesting mix of mecha- nisms, we are always confronted with difficult choices, also due the Forecast deck, and you must allocate money and information wisely. 

named by one of the dice results. INFORMATION Empty water lily pads are not PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: HEY, FROGGY counted; when you reach the 2-4 10+ 10+ TWO YELLOW FROGS ON TOP Pile O‘ Flies and still have steps left you go round the circle and Designer: Anthony Rubbo start again at the start of the frog Artist: Jennifer Vargas Price: ca. 15 Euro 13 water lily pads are laid out in a race track; two fly markers are line. When your turn ends at the Publisher: R&R Games 2012 circle and 12 frogs are randomly put fly-side up in front of each Pile O‘ Flies you move it to the www.rnrgames.com combined to four stacks with player. In your turn you name a next empty lily pad and can turn three frogs each and then those color which is currently visible over your fly markers that show EVALUATION stacks are put on adjacent water on at least one stack of frogs. If an X back to show the flies again; lily pads. Next to the right-most you have a fly marker still show- you can now use them again for Race game with dice For families frog - when looking into the cir- ing the fly side you can turn it additional dice. Should you, at Version: en cle from outside - you place the over to the X side in order to the end of your turn, hold cards Rules: en Pile O‘ Flies. use one or two additional dice; that correspond exactly to the ar- In-game text: no Each player chooses a color then you roll your available dice rangement of frogs visible on the Comments: and places his marker on the and move a frog in the color you top of stacks you discard the card Nice components * Good combination of frog * or cards and move your marker Nice combination of frog on the race track by the number movement for card results of cards you could discard. If you used for advance on the race track * Minimum age seems a bit cannot do this you can discard high, 8+ should work cards from your hand and draw Compares to: new ones. If you are first to reach All race games with movement „B“ the end of the track, you win! due to a result at „A“ Other editions: Simple, cute and a little bit tacti- Currently none cal; clever use of flies for a better choice of dice results can decide the game. Catching flies for the whole families! 

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leaf to another and then remove INFORMATION this pontoon. Or you can place PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: HOOOP! a pontoon. If you jump onto a 2-4 7+ 30+ FROGS JUMPING OVER PONTOONS leaf with a frog this frog must give way and jump to another Designer: Adam Kałuża leaf. If this is not possible due to Artist: Piotr Socha Price: ca. 22 Euro Hops! Hooop! And one more to each of the opposing houses, a lack of pontoons you cannot do Publisher: Granna 2012 jump! Not through a hoop, but three players move two frogs this jump. Pontoons leading to www.granna.pl over a pontoon! All frogs want to into one house and the third houses are not removed. A frog reach the opposing frog houses into the other and two players cannot jump out of a house and EVALUATION as quickly as they can, but after just need to move their frogs also cannot drive out frogs that each jump one pontoon goes into the opposing house. were there before him. You also Placement / Jump For families away. The leaves on the board cor- hold four special cards which Version: de Depending on the number of responding to the number of you can use at any time in the Rules: de + en it hu pl players there are different goals players are connected with game, but you can only use one In-game text: no for the game; four players need pontoons. In your turn you can card per turn and each card only Comments: to bring one of their three frogs jump over a pontoon from one once. They are: Another jump; Very attractive design * Simple basic rules * Quite Cross over Air to a leaf without some tactics are possible pontoon; Place an additional Compares to: pontoon or Remove a pontoon. Halma and MÄDN for Already published in Poland in reaching home spots; first game in this combination of mechanisms 2008, the game is available now Other editions: in a German language addition; Australia, Hungaria, Italy, Russia, it is a visually enchanting place- ment game with cute frogs for playing pieces and - despite being a wonderful family game with simple basic rules - has quite some tactic to offer; especially for children who can experience with first tactical game play. 

So much for a short description INFORMATION - the allure and at the same time PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: HOOYAH a problem in the game is com- 1-4 10+ 45+ SPECIAL TROOPS ON MISSION munications, because, after all, it is a cooperative game; but you Designer: Mike Fitzgerald cannot give the other players Artist: Boginski, Boginski-Barbessi Price: ca. 25 Euro Navy Seals are well-known from if you manage to save time you exact information on what cards Publisher: Inspira television series here, in this acquire health. In the Op phase you hold, they only see what you www.mike-spiele.de game those special troops are you play the cards previously col- take from the display and - for a on a mission. All players win to- lected for each Op in the mission bit more information - the Lt. EVALUATION gether if the complete the mis- (corresponding number of cards Commander can ask at the end sion goal and all players survive, in the required color) and master of his turn, by using an action Cooperative card game With friends or all players lose together. In event cards. After five completed called Roll Call, how many cards Version: en the preparation phase you ac- Ops the mission phase is the last someone could play in a color; Rules: de en quire abilities and equipment challenge. All missions in the you can only answer with a num- In-game text: yes according to the Op demands; game are based on real missions ber, not with a color! And don’t Comments: timeout is paid for with health, of Navy Seals units. forget the topic, which also will Controversial topic * Not much communication pos- not be universally approved! All sible among players * Event in all Hooray is a game for fans of card can topple the game unusual cooperate games, who at the last moment do not mind the high chance el- Compares to: Pandemic and other cooperative ement in the event cards which games at the end can - despite suc- Other editions: cessfully mastered Ops - make Currently none you lose the mission. There are six cards which make you lose one Health for each successfully mastered Ops! But, on the other hand, something like this can happen in real Seals missions, too, can’t it? 

Color codes, target groups, features, icons and GABIS are 28 ISSUE 446 / JANUARY 2013 explained on page 5 and at the bottom of pages 40 and 41 www.gamesjournal.at HOPPA GALOPPA / HOTEL 13 CHECK-IN t PLAYED FOR YOU

in your turn, you cannot use a INFORMATION dice twice. When no color corre- PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: HOPPA GALOPPA sponds to an obstacle the pony 2-4 4+ 10+ JUMPING OBSTACLES WITH DICE ROLL remains where it is, but you take the obstacle behind the pony Designer: Heinz Meister (if there is already such an ob- Artist: Iris Rossbach Price: ca. 10 Euro Four ponies in their pasture are and puts it at the start of the stacle) and put it at the end of Publisher: Haba 2012 real tomboys and best friends at track. You roll all four color dice. the track, so that the race track is www.haba.de the same time, and most of all If one of the dice fits the color elongated. If you are first to jump they like to race each other and of the first obstacle in front of over the last obstacle in the track EVALUATION to overcome different obstacles the pony, you can jump over with your pony, you win the race in those races. this obstacle and keep jumping today. Race game with dice For children 12 obstacle cards are randomly over more obstacles while there If you like you can play the vari- Version: multi shuffled and laid out to form a is a color die corresponding ant that you take away the obsta- Rules: de en es fr it nl race track, with about a pony to the next obstacle in front of cle in front of the pone to expand In-game text: no length of distance between two the pony. So you can jump over the race track when you have to Comments: cards. Each player takes a pony a maximum of four obstacles remain in the same position with Exceedingly simple rules * Beautiful, functional your pony. components * Trains color As one is used to from Haba, recognition and hand-eye this little game, too, convinces coordination by most simple mechanisms, Compares to: All dice game with a color dice pretty illustrations correspond- Other editions: ing to the target group, and very Currently none pretty components; the ponies all come in colors that could be the colors of real ponies in a pas- ture. The game trains simple col- or recognition and assignment and a bit of hand-eye coordina- tion in picking up and replacing obstacle cards. 

you master the task, you take all INFORMATION clues depicted on the card and PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: HOTEL 13 CHECK-IN also one clue from each of the 2-4 8+ 45+ SUMMER JOB ADVENTURE clue areas that you entered in this turn. If someone rolls a 1 + Designer: not stated a 3 he can either make a normal Artist: not stated Price: ca. 18 Euro Tom, Anna and Liv start their is either an event card or a task move of four steps or can jump Publisher: Studio100 Media 12 summer jobs at Hotel 13 and en- card. Event cards are read out to directly to Room 13, using the www.studio100.de counter a secret in Room 13 that the other players and you keep dice result as a Magic 13. When needs to be revealed. In seven of them for later use. Then you the room is still locked you place EVALUATION nine hotel rooms depicted on draw another card, etc., until your marker 1 to 3 steps away the board there are clue areas, you have drawn a task card. This from the room; or you can chal- Roll, move & collect For children where you collect white and task card is also read out und you lenge another player. If you win Version: de black cubes for clues during the follow its instructions instantly. the challenge you receive a clue Rules: de game. You roll dice and move When you do not manage the from the defeated player. In-game text: yes your marker; on a clue are you task your left neighbor moves When two rooms are empty of Comments: draw a clue card. This clue card his marker into this room. When clues you can enter Room 13 Game based on the TV series * Nicely combined and try to master your personal standard mechanisms * At- dice tasks by rolling dice and us- tractive design * Especially ing bonuses from clues that you for fans of the series put up. Mastered personal tasks Compares to: Cluedo, Das Haus Anubis and other in Room 13 are covered with clue-collecting games clues. If you manage all personal Other editions: tasks first, you reveal the secret Currently none and win- Following Das Haus Anubis, this is again a thrilling game for fans of the equally thrilling and tense series, using nice standard mechanisms and attractive com- ponents. 

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your guests into rooms. There INFORMATION are nine rooms with room for PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: HUGO DAS SCHLOSSGESPENST one marker each; if you enter a 2-8 7+ 30+ NOW ACCOMPANIED BY HUGO JR. room with the exact number of steps, you may - and that is new Designer: Wolfgang Kramer - oust a marker that is already in Artist: Marek Blaha Price: ca. 20 Euro Ghosts are long-lived, as every- of players, you guide two to six the room When Hugo overtakes Publisher: Amigo Spiele 2013 one knows, and so is Hugo, he is guest markers. You roll a dice a marker, the marker is caught www.amigo-spiele.de haunting the games community and move one of your markers, and put on the stair step with the now already in his fourth edition, always along the gallery. If you highest free number of spooky EVALUATION and the ravages of time have roll Hugo, he begins by gliding points. If you deviate to the Ar- gotten to him, too! up the stairs and then along the mory, you are caught there by Roll & Move For families As usual, Hugo appears at mid- gallery; with each rounding of Hugo jr. and score one spooky Version: de night and frightens guests at the the gallery Hugo’s pace quick- point; in the ball room or the Rules: de opulent ball, who want to flee ens, at the end of the game he banquet hall you can relax and In-game text: no into the rooms as quickly as pos- moves 7 steps. As soon as Hugo can shed three spooky points. Comments: sible. Depending on the number enters the gallery you can move If you pass Hugo you are not Revised new edition * Addi- tional new rules * Includes caught! When you have placed board and rules for the all your markers in rooms or on original game the stairs you must move one Compares to: marker away from there, up- First game of its kind; basically roll & move games featuring avoiding of stairs! When Hugo’s round track encounters shows 5:00 a.m., the game ends Other editions: and you fin with fewest spooky Currently none points. On the back side of the board you can play the original game of Mitternachtsparty. Old and still good, very good, a quick game of chance with a quantum of tactic, an amusing, harmonious family game. 

a handy and talk to the agent, INFORMATION alarm, or naming letters, num- PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: IN GEHEIMER MISSION bers, and symbols. 2-5 8+ 15+ REMEMBER YOUR CODE When the timer runs out all stop DESPITE HECKLING and the agent names all num- Designer: Hüpper, Koser, Nikisch, Zirm bers, letters and symbols he can Artist: Heinrich Drescher Price: ca. 6 Euro At long last! The countdown is the other and tries to remember remember; his left neighbor con- Publisher: Haba 2012 running for Agent X in the High the symbols, cards that you have trols the cards. For each correctly www.haba.de Security Compound to remem- seen you can look at again any named symbol you score a point. ber the secret code, but heckling time. You decide yourself how In the second round each player EVALUATION disturbs his concentration! man cards you turn over and try draws his own heckling action In three rounds each player is to remember. The other players and in the third round you can Concentration game For children the agent once. You are given try to disturb the agent with the choose a heckling action to do. If Version: multi 12 code cards, the first heckling current heckling action - imitate you have most points at the end Rules: de en card is turned over and the timer a plane, bark, imitate a radio, run- of three rounds you win. In a vari- In-game text: no is started. While the timer runs, ning around looking for some- ant you must name all symbols Comments: the agent turns up one card after thing, thunderstorm, imitating in the correct order; in the FEX Part of the FEX series * Memo variant with versions you need to switch the disturbing actions * Trains order of symbols in your head or concentration and short- follow an instruction first before term memory naming symbols. Compares to: First game of its kind How nice if you can let out the Other editions: tomboy in a game at as part of Currently none the game mechanism, too! This is a wonderful concentration ex- ercise that turns into a real chal- lenge in rounds Two and Three with multiple noises! Or is it get- ting easier because the different noises fade each other out? Try it yourself! 

Color codes, target groups, features, icons and GABIS are 30 ISSUE 446 / JANUARY 2013 explained on page 5 and at the bottom of pages 40 and 41 www.gamesjournal.at JACKAL & HIGH / KELTIS t PLAYED FOR YOU

pass up following rounds. You INFORMATION can only place dice on a card as PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: JACKAL & HIGH long as the total value of your 2-5 8+ 20+ DICING AND GAMBLING dice on this card does not top the value of the card; otherwise Designer: Andreas Schmidt you put one die on Vulture Valley. Artist: Benedikt Beck Price: ca. 10 Euro Leaders of the pack are fighting are visible; only one Lucky 8 card After three rounds all dice not Publisher: Zoch 2012 in the savannah for pack cards. can be on display, additional exactly equaling the value of the www.zoch-verlag.com You have three dice of one color; ones are set aside. card beneath are put on Vulture one pack card is laid openly onto In a maximum of three rounds Valley. If you are then alone on a EVALUATION Vulture Valley, the others are of rolling all place their dice on card you get the card(s). Should shuffled thoroughly and a num- cards, each card takes any num- there be other players’ dice on Dice game For families ber of cards equal to the num- ber of dice of any number of this card, too, you use the dice Version: multi ber of players plus one is laid out; players. For round 1 you roll all on the card to roll for the cards; a Rules: de en fr it when a Take 2 card appears, you dice up to three times and set 1, higher value or fewer dice in case In-game text: no put another card on top, until 2 or 3 of them down on cards; of a die wins. If you win Lucky 8 Comments: only pack cards or Lucky 8 cards when you are out of dice you you take all unassigned cards. Fi- Fast dice game * Nice rule details * Choice of cards nally, you gamble in Vulture Val- for use of dice is a deciding ley which costs you pack cards or element earns you pack cards. When you Compares to: cannot fill the display for a round, All dice game you win with most paws on your Other editions: Currently none pack cards. A simple rolling of dice for cards, but funny, fast and posing the eternal question for which and how many cards you should bid. Rather be alone on 3 than lose the gamble for Lucky 8! 

with most points from all your INFORMATION markers. PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: KELTIS On the back of the double-sided 2-4 10+ 30+ MIT ERWEITERUNG: board you can play the expan- NEUE WEGE, NEUE ZIELE sion „Neue Wege, Neue Ziele“, Designer: Reiner Knizia based on the basic game, with Artist: C. Stephan, M. Hoffmann Price: ca. 23 Euro You want to advance your own an action tile you acquire vic- a changed board and new path Publisher: Kosmos 2012 markers on the Path of the tory points or another step; the tiles. You place open-faced stacks www.kosmos.de Stones. In order to place them or tiles remain on the path. Wishing of wishing stone tiles on corre- to move them forward you play stones you take, but they only sponding steps of the paths. All EVALUATION a corresponding card in one of score positive when you own paths now take you to all finish the rows of cards. You can start at least two of them; otherwise positions, on steps with path tiles Placement game For families on row of cards for each path = they cost you points. A marker you acquire the reward; green Version: de color, the second card placed in scores positive on a path when tiles stay in place and orange Rules: de + cn, hu, kr a row decides if you place cards he reaches the fifth position. ones are taken by the first player In-game text: no in ascending or descending or- When any five markers have on this step. Wishing stone tiles Comments: der. When your move ends on reached the finish area you win are collected face down and Combination of Keltis and the Neue Wege Neue Ziele scored at the end of the game expansion * Double-sided according to number and color. board * Rules unchanged At the you win again with most compared to those of the separate editions points from positions of your Compares to: markers and path tiles you col- Keltis, Lost Cities lected. Other editions: In this edition, too, Keltis, Game Currently none of the Year 2008, has retained its allure as an exciting and - in case of the expansion - doubly interesting family game; the de- ciding questions still are: How many paths do I start, what do I discard? Moving to the finish already? 

WIN The Games Journal now also available as eBook! www.gamesjournal.at For all information on that check our website. ISSUE 446 / JANUARY 2013 31 PLAYED FOR YOU u KING OF TOKYO POWER UP! / KIPP X

of life points; a monster with 0 INFORMATION life points withdraws from the POWER UP! PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: KING OF TOKYO fight for Tokyo. You use energy 2-6 8+ 30+ THE INCREDIBLE PANDAKAÏ crystals to buy cards with a one- time instant effect or a perma- Designer: Richard Garfield nent effect; cards modify dam- Artist: Grivet, Chappuis, Polouchine Price: ca. 18 Euro King of Tokyo is a dice game on dangerous, because a new mon- age, victory points and healing. Publisher: Heidelberger 2012 monsters, who invade Tokyo to ster is rampaging the city - the The evolution cards of monsters www.heidelbaer.de gain control over the city! Why? incredible Pandakaï, who looks have permanent or temporary No idea, it’s something monsters rather cute at first glance with effects on the corresponding EVALUATION doe and so we turn to monsters his bamboo hat and checkered monster: The cards are shuffled to direct one of them and try to skirt, but only at first glance! And and stacked face-down. When- Dice game For families take a stance against other mon- he brings evolution cards for all ever you are in Tokyo with your Version: de sters. monsters with him! The rules of monster and roll at least three Rules: de + en fr it jp With the appearance of the King the basic game apply: You roll 6 hearts, you can draw the top In-game text: yes of Tokyo Power Up! expansion dice up to three times and score evolution card, which remains Comments: Tokyo has become even more them for crystals, healing or loss secret until you play it. Cards of Well-made expansion * Evolution cards introduce a the basic game never apply to bit of tactic and a lot more those evolution cards; you can, chance as regards to poten- for instance, neither buy evolu- tial respective opponents tions of your opponent nor copy Compares to: King of Tokyo them. When you play with Power Other editions: Up! you also win as the last mon- Iello, France; Hobby Japan; HomoLu- ster standing or with 20 victory dicus, Spain; Uplay.it, Italy points. With this expansion the game is still an entertaining parody on Godzilla and Co., a bit more tac- tical and at the same time much more incalculable due as regards to other monsters. 

cubes - are distributed evenly to INFORMATION all players; then all make a move PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: KIPP X in turn and place one cube on 2-4 5+ 20+ WILL THE SEE-SAW TILT? the see-saw, always on one of the bars or on one of the cubes Designer: Torsten Marold already on the see-saw. You may Artist: Bernd Martens Price: ca. 30 Euro Already back in 1999 Kippit was basic game is the same, again not touch the see-saw or any of Publisher: franjos Spieleverlag 12 published featuring the idea that you must get rid of your cubes the cubes on it when you place www.franjos.de is now also the basis for Kipp X quickly and be the first to do so. a cube. When nothing happens - you want to place cubes onto A board shaped like an X or cross when you place a cube, you may EVALUATION a see-saw and be the first to get - four bars with ascending steps, place another cube, and so on, rid of all your cubes. In the early arranged around a middle spot - until either the see-saw tilts or Placement/balance game For families game the mechanics only ap- is set up, at the start none of the you stop voluntarily. When the Version: multi plied to a game for two players. four bars is touching the table. All see-saw just tilts without cubes Rules: de en es fr pt The new edition of Kipp X uses cubes - 12 big red ones, 16 me- falling off, your turn simply ends. In-game text: no the game mechanics from Kip- dium blue ones, 20 small yellow Should cubes happen to fall of Comments: pit for up to four players. The ones and 24 even smaller green when the see-saw tilts or should Purist wooden compo- nents * Works also well for just cubes fall of you must add two players * Simple rules * the fallen cubes to your personal High replay value stock. If you place your last cube, Compares to: you win. Kippit As all games from franjos this Other editions: Currently none one, too, is simple, elegant and made of beautiful materials; purist fun without background story or complicated rules; fun and excitement simply come from „Is the see-saw tilting? Do cubes fall?” 

Color codes, target groups, features, icons and GABIS are 32 ISSUE 446 / JANUARY 2013 explained on page 5 and at the bottom of pages 40 and 41 www.gamesjournal.at MONOPOLY DER HOBBIT / OUT OF GEARS t PLAYED FOR YOU

hotels as usual, albeit in gold and INFORMATION silver. PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: MONOPOLY DER HOBBIT The playing pieces, on the other 2-6 8+ 90+ EINE UNERWARTETE REISE hand, are items from the film: There is Gandalfs Hat, Thorins Designer: not stated Key, Gloin’s Axe, Filis Bow, a spike Artist: not stated Price: ca. 40 Euro Once again a game of Monopoly roads have been changed into and of course The One Ring. Publisher: Winning Moves 2012 has been adapted to a film, this dwarves and other characters Contrary to other license or www.winning-moves.de time to The Hobbit An Unexpect- from the film; train stations and theme editions there is no rules ed Journey; and this edition, too, power stations have turned expansion or additional rule EVALUATION has been adapted to the topic into weapons or locations from specific for the special topic; the as usual and was reworked a bit. the film; Community cards and rules, too, have only been mar- Roll & Move game For families The board is nicely decorated in event cards have become “Rät- ginally adapted to the topic: The Version: de the style of the film, but keeps sel-Spiel” and “Zwergenschatz- rules still mention roads and tax Rules: de up the basically standard al- truhe”. Houses and hotels have spots in connection with „Zwer- In-game text: yes location of spots; Start and Jail not been adapted to the topic, gen füttern“ or „Höhlenrücklage“, Comments: are still there as is parking; the they remain simply houses and which is the name for the spots Inconsequent implementa- tion of the topic, especially on the board. in the rules * Playing pieces Fans of Monopoly will like this and board spots adapted, edition, too, the playing pieces houses and hotels not * Seems somewhat unfinished are collectors objects anyway; Compares to: but the overall impression is Other editions of Monopoly mixed; too obvious is the feel- Other editions: ing of „Mr. Monopoly meets Mr. Currently none Beutlin“ : What a pity, this could have been done better instead of producing a visually different version of a well-known standard game with well-worn rules; so it appeals mostly for collectors in one genre or the other. 

and then all reveal their cards at INFORMATION the same time. The robot with PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: OUT OF GEARS the number you chose is at- 2-8 8+ 30+ ROBOT FIGHTING ROBOT tacked; if you chose your own robot, he defends himself. If you Designer: Andrea Nani successfully attack or defend, Artist: Guido Favaro Price: ca. 19 Euro Robots are out of control and All play simultaneously: First you you receive Gears. Traps block Publisher: Red Glove 2012 fight each other in a battle for program robots, then you acti- junkyards, nobody can harvest www.redglove.eu spare parts, called Gears. You vate robots and implement ac- there, and with the Harvest ac- collect them for points and take tions in the sequence of Attack, tion you choose a junkyard that EVALUATION a robot, his Internal Circuit board Traps and Harvests. After that, you want to empty out. When and a set of cards; Gears are laid you move gears to the Internal two players would get Gears Collecting game For families out as a general stock. You lay Circuit boards and draw new from the same junkyard or ro- Version: en out eight junkyards and ran- gears for the junkyards. bot you split them evenly. If, Rules: en it domly place two gears on each To program a robot you take an after such an activation phase, In-game text: no active junkyard (junkyards for action card and a number card you have three or more Gears Comments: robots not in play are inactive). face-down up into your hand next to your robot, you transfer Nice family game * Simple basic rules * Secret selec- two of them to your Internal Cir- tion and then comparison cuit board; those pieces are safe. of cards If there are no Gears in stock and Compares to: at least one junkyard is empty, All games with simultaneous secret choice of action and then implemen- you win with most points from tation, even Stone-Scissors-Paper in safe Gears. general Out of Gears is a fast game with Other editions: witty illustrations; basically it Red Glove, in Italian; ElfinWerks, USA; is a comparison of cards, a bit like Scissors-Stone-Paper; if you choose something alone, you can do it, otherwise someone who defends or blocks succeeds - a nice family game with an un- usual topic. 

WIN The Games Journal now also available as eBook! www.gamesjournal.at For all information on that check our website. ISSUE 446 / JANUARY 2013 33 PLAYED FOR YOU u PESCADO / PINGUINTANZ AUF DEM EIS

combinations on different tiles; INFORMATION but when there are two red fish PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: PESCADO on a tile you need two red dice! 2-4 7+ 20+ FISH FOR TILES IN POND AND NEXT DOOR When you have taken all possible tiles, you can roll again and can Designer: Steffen Benndorf add one or two grey dice to your Artist: Steffen Mühlhäuser Price: ca. 19 Euro The name gives a hint on the color scores you three points. roll, but you must turn over two Publisher: Steffen Spiele 2012 topic for this dice game, it‘s fish To play you shuffle the tiles face- tiles in the pond for each grey www.steffen-spiele.de and fishing; each of the 36 tiles down and stack them; six of die you want to use and you can there are three colored fish and them are laid out open-faced to leave dice from your first roll on EVALUATION you use the color dice to try form the pond. For your first roll the table. You compare the re- and acquire as valuable fish as you use five white color dice and sult of the second rules with the Dice game For families possible. When three different check the result for correlations pond and take those tiles that Version: de fishes are depicted on a tile, it between dice and tiles; you can you can make up with your dice. Rules: de + en scores one point, two fishes of take any tile whose color of fish The next player in turn can al- In-game text: no the same color score two points you can match with your dice; ways also take tiles from his pre- Comments: and a triplet of fish of the same you can use one die for several decessor who then turns over his Attractive design * Variant „Fische Schnappen“ for remaining tiles after his succes- triplet rolls * Unequal sor’s turn and thus secures them. number of turns due to When you cannot refill the pond, sudden end * Last player does not lose tiles you win with most points. Compares to: A simple dice game like so many Dice game for color combinations others, were it not for those al- Other editions: luring grey dice and the fishing Currently none from your predecessor; he has three red fish, if 1 turn over those two 1-point-tiles and leave those two red dice …. 

transform one Pentomino into INFORMATION another to get a penguin to the AUF DEM EIS PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: PINGUINTANZ correct position and to place 1 6+ var PUZZLING FUN WITH PENTOMINOS the floe on the board without a gap. The solutions are included Designer: Raf Peeters in the booklet of puzzles; the 15 Artist: not stated Price: ca. 16 Euro Five penguins sit on ice floes Starter - Junior - Expert - Master; starter puzzles are meant to ex- Publisher: Jumbo / Smart 2012 which move and change. You each puzzle presets the posi- plain the game and to introduce www.jumbo.eu are asked to fit the floes into tion of one or several penguins you to this kind of logic position the board in a way that all the on the board; the location for and arrangement puzzle; the ar- EVALUATION penguins are in their assigned non-preset penguins you can rangement of the Pentominos is positions. One penguin each is choose yourself. There is always given, you have to position the Logic puzzle For families permanently fixed to each of only one correct solution. In penguins; in the Junior level only Version: multi the five floes, on one of the five order to solve a puzzle you can one or two Pentomino shapes Rules: de en es fr it nl pt squares of each Pentomino floe. change the shape of one or sev- are shown where they should In-game text: no You choose a puzzle from one eral floe: You can shift part of a be preset, and in the Expert and Comments: of the four levels of difficulty, floe in every floe - so you can Master levels you only see the Solitaire game * Puzzles in four levels of difficulty * position of the penguins on a Solutions included * Pretty, grid n 25 squares. Those levels sturdy design need a lot of thinking and shift- Compares to: ing of Pentomino parts to bring All other logic position puzzles the penguin ballet into position. Other editions: Penguins on Ice, Smart Games Pinguintanz fits seamlessly into the range of position puzzles by Smartgames at Jumbo, show- ing the usual high quality; com- ponents are classy, the puzzles range from most simply to fiend- ish and the logic fun is huge. 

Color codes, target groups, features, icons and GABIS are 34 ISSUE 446 / JANUARY 2013 explained on page 5 and at the bottom of pages 40 and 41 www.gamesjournal.at SAMURAI SWORD! / SEI STARK. SAG NEIN! t PLAYED FOR YOU

most Honor Points or to be the INFORMATION last one in play. A turn includes: PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: SAMURAI SWORD! Resilience points, drawing two 3-7 8+ 45+ NINJA VS. SAMURAI AND RONIN cards, playing cards for yourself or an attack and discarding cards. Designer: Emiliano Sciarra If you lose your last Resilience Artist: Werther Dell’Edera Price: ca. 20 Euro Samurai Sword is based on suss out their enemies and to point you yield an Honor Point to Publisher: dV Giochi 2012 the well-known and well-liked honor Bushido, the True Ways of the winning attacker; if someone www.dvgiochi.com BANG! Game System and takes the Warrior. is out of Honor Points the game us into the Land of the Rising To put it simple: Swords instead ends and you score Honor, bo- EVALUATION Sun: True and devoted Samurai of guns! In analogy to Bang! you nus of roles, Daimyo cards and protect their Shogun. Insidious secretly choose a role (Shogun, Fatal Attacks. Card game With friends Ninjas try to destabilize the Em- Samurai, Ninja or Ronin) and a As is only to be expected from a Version: en pire from within - at whatever character with special abilities; classic topic and characters syn- Rules: de en it jp cost it takes! And meanwhile a Shogun & Samurai, Ninjas and onymous for fighters the system In-game text: yes Ronin is preparing for battle and Ronin make up three secret can be seamlessly and without Comments: plans his revenge. Players try to teams with the goal to achieve effort transferred from the Wild German edition 2013 at Abacusspiele * Part of the West to the Far east; the biggest Bang! Game Series * Differ- difference between those two ent topic and setting * No games is that in Samurai Sword elimination of characters results in different scoring no player drops out of the game, Compares to: you only lose an Honor point, Bang! and variants pass for the rest of the round and Other editions: then return to the game with the 2013: Abacusspiele, Germany; Hobby full amount of resilience points. Japan That necessitates knowing who to strip of Honor points by suc- cessfully attacking him, so you should try to identify your team mates quickly. 

answer; one can add discussion, INFORMATION explain correct behavior and PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: SEI STARK. SAG NEIN! actions, etc. The gymnastic and 1+ 5+ var PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE movement exercises are meant TOWARDS CHILDREN to convey self-confidence and Designer: Andreas Büdeker strength and the picture cards in Artist: Haus d. g. Geschmacks Price: ca. 10 Euro Violence towards children, dan- cards are shuffled by the moder- the blue category of „Remember Publisher: Nürnberger Spielkarten 12 ger for children - topics of this ator and stacked; then you draw something“ are meant to induce www.nsv.de violence prevention game for all a card. If a red prevention card and train exact observation and the family with the goal to sensi- is drawn the moderator shows analyzing situations. EVALUATION tize children in a playful way for the picture and reads out the For correctly answered questions their interaction with strangers. choice of answers given on the and correctly mastered exercises Educational game For children The game features three dif- back of the card. The player/child the child is given the card, which Version: de ferent kinds of cards: Red pre- chooses one of the possibilities, is worth one point; if more than Rules: de vention cards, green „Show sometimes there are several cor- one play you win in the end with In-game text: yes something“ cards and blue „Re- rect answers; the child should most points. Comments: member something“ cards. The give reasons for his choice of This card game picks up one of Immensely important topic * Topic well presented the most important topics in without inducing fear * relation to children; it conveys Pictures trigger discussions to children an awareness of po- and questions tentially dangerous situations Compares to: First game of this kind without frightening them and Other editions: shows that it is okay to say NO Currently none whenever they dislike a situation or are not comfortable in a situa- tion. The emphasis of the game is on prevention and exclusively on violence that could happen to children outside their home, potential violence elsewhere is not featured. 

WIN The Games Journal now also available as eBook! www.gamesjournal.at For all information on that check our website. ISSUE 446 / JANUARY 2013 35 PLAYED FOR YOU u SHARK ATTACKS! / SHINOBE

roll again. For another roll you INFORMATION must first roll the yellow event PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: SHARK ATTACKS! die: For Sun new guests arrive; 2-6 10+ 30+ HOTEL GUESTS TAKE A DIVE you can roll an additional blue die; For a Cloud guests stay Designer: Henning Poehl away due to bad weather, you Artist: Michael Holtschulte Price: ca. 15 Euro A hotel on the beach, we are the 1) accept the result, note it and set aside one of your blue dice Publisher: Sphinx Spieleverlag 12 owners, and are pleased about pass your turn; if you do so you showing water; If you roll Shark www.sphinx-spieleverlag.de doing good business when can discard one of your „Shark Attacks, the game flow changes: guests have fun at the beach attacks“ signs. 2) You have rolled You set aside all blue water dice EVALUATION and enjoy bathing. But unfortu- a Beach Party, that is, only bath- and you must try to get guests nately, sharks keep appearing in ing guests, the score double, out of the water. You roll all blue Dice game For families the shallow waters at the beach, you note your score and your dice showing bathing guests Version: multi hurting bathing gusts and that is turns is over automatically; you and the shark die. Shark dice are Rules: de en bad for business and the number can discards two “Shark attacks” scored in relation to the number In-game text: no of visitors. signs; 3) You are not happy of sharks they show and they eat Comments: You roll blue dice and can then with the result of the roll and bathing guests according to the Rather macabre topic * Topic wittily implemented rules; bathing guests that escape * Well-combined standard are scored; when all manage to mechanisms escape, they score triple. Shark Compares to: Attacks also give you “Shark At- All dice game with stop-for-safety or continue-at-your-peril mechanism tacks” signs, which reduce your Other editions: number of blue dice you can roll Currently none for bathing guests in your next turn. If you are first to reach 100 points, you win. As is usual for a game by Hen- ning Poehl, the topic is slightly macabre, but nicely done fea- turing wittily implemented stan- dard mechanisms. 

pens from your own province on INFORMATION an opponent’s province and only SHINOBI against weaker armies holding PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: 2-5 12+ 40+ WAR OF CLANS fewer cards and not on armies of the same clan or on armies for Designer: Danila Goryunov which you played cards in Phase Artist: Danila Goryunov Price: ca. 12 Euro In 16th century Feudal Japan parts: Troop deployment order, 1 and 2 of your turn. An attack is Publisher: Rightgames 2012 players embody agents of the Troop movement order and automatically successful; the at- www.russionboardgames.com five most powerful clans and Attack, which in turn means to tacked army loses one troop unit, are tasked with ensuring mili- place a card from your hand that is, one card. Instead of play- EVALUATION tary supremacy for their clan. into another province; then to ing a card into a province you Each player is secretly assigned place a card into your own dis- can choose an opponent’s stack Card discarding game With friends a clan card and you draw four play = province or move a card and discard a card from this stack Version: multi troop cards from the deck. The from from opponent’s province together with a Ninja card from Rules: de en fr it + ru table area in front of each player into another player’s province your hand, thereby destroying In-game text: no is representing a Japanese prov- or into your own, and then to one troop unit. When the cards Comments: ince. A move consists of three fight, if possible. An attack hap- have been used up, clan affilia- Little or very little tactic * tions are revealed and you win if Fast, quick card shedding game * Nicely combined you control the mightiest army. mechanisms Sounds rather tactical, but is Compares to: rarely that, as you have no infor- Card shedding games in color sets mation and can only try to draw with secret allocation Other editions: conclusions from what your In Russian at Rightgames opponents do; so one should maybe reduce one’s one color a bit before on is targeted by all, because you have been sparing one certain color, so, tactic after all, in this attractive, quickly ex- plained and quickly played card game? 

Color codes, target groups, features, icons and GABIS are 36 ISSUE 446 / JANUARY 2013 explained on page 5 and at the bottom of pages 40 and 41 www.gamesjournal.at SO LÄUFT DER HASE / THE HOBBIT t PLAYED FOR YOU

hare, you drop out of the game. INFORMATION When nobody can move, you PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: SO LÄUFT DER HASE score three points for a carrot, 2-4 8+ 15+ CARROTS, SALAD AND DANDELION two points for a salad and one for a dandelion. Designer: Goran Veljkovic Keep paying close attention Artist: Gerhards Spiel & Design Price: ca. 40 Euro Score points in the vegetable the board from top left to bot- during all of the game, because Publisher: Gerhards Spiel & Design 12 garden, marbles are represent- tom right. This ensures a new if you put your hare into a po- www.spiel-und-design.eu ing vegetables - orange for car- random starting set-up for each tential target spot of another rots, green for salad and yellow game. The player whose hare is player - with the exception of EVALUATION for dandelion. And then there is drawn first is starting player, and everybody’s first turn - and your one hare per player. The number then you play in turn in the order opponent notices this he can Collecting game For families of vegetable marbles for the re- of hares drawn and sitting on the chase away your rabbit and put Version: de spective number of players and board. Hares move like a Knight it into his own collecting bowl. Rules: de all hares are placed in the bag, in Chess, only on occupied spots This player drops out of the In-game text: no Then you pull them from the bag and you take the marble you game instantly and the player Comments: one by one and place them on reach! If you cannot move your who chased him away scores 4 Nice topic * Take great care not to be chased off! points for the hare at the end of * Team variant and variant the game and the vegetables of for younger players the chased-away player are not Compares to: scored at the end. In a game of All abstract collecting games four players you can play the Other editions: Currently none team version, in which the mar- bles of chased-away players are scored. Very simple, but aggravatingly brooding, you look and check and it can happen that your only possible move is the one that re- sults in being chased away. But that’s how the land lies, or better, the marbles lie! 

of cards already in place. You INFORMATION can cover Gollum with any card, PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: THE HOBBIT can place only dwarves on Bilbo; 2-4 8+ 40+ DAS KARTENSPIEL Gandalf can be placed on Bilbo and dwarves and Gollum in turn Designer: Reiner Knizia on any card. But you may only Artist: vitamin-be.de Price: ca. 15 Euro Bilbo Beutlin joins a Fellowship they are stacked in ascending play Gollum or dwarves or Gan- Publisher: Ravensburger 2012 of 13 Dwarves and Magician order, Location One is laid out dalf in a turn, together with any www.ravensburger.de Gandalf in a journey to win back first. Each player holds 18 char- number of Bilbo cards. The order the Dwarven treasure stolen a acter cards of one color as a face- in which you play the card is up EVALUATION long time ago by Smaug the down stack in front of him and to you. You can play Bilbo also Dragon. draws five cards from this stack without any other card. If you Card placement game For families Playes move from location to in hand. play Thorin you force the next Version: multi location and place cards next In your turn you place cards next player to pass his turn. When Rules: de en fr it nl to the locations. Depending on to the location, open-faced, one eight cards are laid out around In-game text: no the number of players different or more than one, which you a location, you receive gems if Comments: numbers of locations are in play, place in empty spots or on top you have most or second most Mechansism from Der Herr der Ringe Die Gefährten characters of your color visible Das Kartenspiel, varied at a location. The next location is and simplified * Basically placed next to a card played for abstract placement game for majorities * Illustrations provide the previous location. When all topic relation locations have been scored you Compares to: win with most gems in this basi- Der Herr der Ringe Die Gefährten Das cally abstract placement game Kartenspiel Other editions: for majorities, getting its topic Currently none just from illustration from the film; there is some tactic due to the placement of cards already in preparation for the next location. All in all a good, family-friendly card placement game. 

WIN The Games Journal now also available as eBook! www.gamesjournal.at For all information on that check our website. ISSUE 446 / JANUARY 2013 37 PLAYED FOR YOU u TRAINS / VOLL INS SCHWARZE

order and as often as you like, but INFORMATION in separate actions, in analogy to PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: TRAINS other deck building games. A card 2-4 12+ 45+ LAYING RAILWAY TRACKS IN JAPAN you play earns you virtual coins for the current turn only; the ef- Designer: Hisashi Hayashi fects of action cards can be used Artist: ryo_nyamo Price: ca. 50 Euro Private railroad companies in 19th buildings. instantly. With those virtual coins Publisher: Okazu Brand 2012 century Japan, that in time merge The game always comprises eight you buy cards and, at the end of www.gamers-jp.com into bigger company; actually this stacks of Mandatory cards - Trains, your turn, you put all cards that is a topic that one associate with stations, Waste, etc, - and eight you played, bought or remaining EVALUATION a game from the 18xx series, but randomly chosen stacks of cards in your hand on your personal dis- Trains is a deck building game - from a total of 30 different cards, card pile. When four of the stacks Deck building With friends you play and buy cards for trains, ranging from Amusement Park are empty or if you have used up Version: multi personnel and facilities, which to Tunnel or Viaduct. At the start all your track markers or when all Rules: en jp you all use to build track around each player puts a track marker station markers have been placed In-game text: no Tokyo or Osaka, or with which you onto the board. Then you play you add up bonuses for track and Comments: expand the towns and construct and buy cards in your turn in any points on your cards to win with Track building with a deck building mechanism * the highest score. Functional cards * Good, The mechanisms are clearly remi- easily understood rules * niscent of Dominion, but Trains is Very difficult to acquire much more a track building game Compares to: Deck building games like Dominion, than a deck building game; a spe- Track placement games like Ticket to cial feature are waste cards which Ride, overall first game of its kind you must take when building Other editions: track; you must spend an entire Currently none turn just to get rid of waste cards you currently have in hand. This is a marvelous game, in which other players do not obstruct you, they “only” make building more expen- sive. It is to be hoped that there will be another edition! 

to place a face-down tip or you INFORMATION can pass. When the question PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: VOLL INS SCHWARZE has been read each player can 2-7 6+ 45+ HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVED place one or several of his num- IN POLAND IN 2010? ber cards face down on the table Designer: Touku Tahkokallio for a tip or pause and lay down Artist: Michael Menzel Price: ca. 30 Euro From the categories of This & any question is always a number any number of cards together Publisher: Huch! & friends 2012 That, Geography, History, Sports, between 1 and 99. The number with the Pause card. If you gave www.huchandfriends.de Technology and Entertainment cards do not offer a card for each the best tip and are nearest to you choose four for the current number, very many of them are the correct answer you move EVALUATION game and assign them to a seg- not available, others are in the your marker one step forward ment of the board. In a turn you deck several times. Each player and discard your number cards. Assessment game With friends choose a category, advance holds 3 cards drawn from the When the answer is exactly cor- Version: de the category marker and read stack 1-9, 2 cards from stack rect, you keep your number Rules: de a question from the category; 10-20 and 2 cards from stack 30- cards. If you paused you draw In-game text: yes for instance “Rome was built on 80. For an answer to a question three cards from any stacks of Comments: how many hills?“ The answer for you can use one or more cards your choice and take back all Gut for large groups * Nice selection of questions your cards in hand, as do all * Informative without those players whose tip was not demanding knowledge close enough to the correct an- or facts swer. When three category mark- Compares to: Pi mal Daumen and other assessment ers have reached the center you games win with most points. The game Other editions: also features a Bull’s Eye version Currently none with task cards for the categories. Informative, funny, stress free, and if you know the correct answer but cannot make it up from your numbers you can al- ways pause! And be annoyed! Or hope that you are near enough! Have fun! 

Color codes, target groups, features, icons and GABIS are 38 ISSUE 446 / JANUARY 2013 explained on page 5 and at the bottom of pages 40 and 41 www.gamesjournal.at WÜRFELmania / X MARKS THE SPOT t PLAYED FOR YOU

place or move backwards. In INFORMATION Quizville the color die deter- PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: WÜRFELmania mines the category of the ques- 2-6 12+ 30+ DICE-DICE, 12-SIDED, COLOR DICE … tion you must answer; in Knobel- feld you must comply with dice Designer: The Haywire Group tasks plus an additional task, for Artist: Mirko Suzuki Price: ca. 24 Euro A total of 133 dice is used for a what’s difficult about that? Well, instance name term in accor- Publisher: Amigo Spiele 2012 party game with actions in three the green dice are 12-sided dice dance with a letter you rolled; www.amigo-spiele.de areas of the board: Quizville, and there are six of them and finally, Action land can confront Knobelfeld and Actionland. You the area they offer for stacking you with anything from drawing EVALUATION take a card corresponding to the isn’t really that large. Or you roll terms to constructing stacks of location of your marker on the the die and then name as many dice. If you happen to stand on a Dice game collection With friends board and try to master the task chancellors as indicated by the Juhu spot you may choose your Version: de stated on the card. For instance: die before the timer runs out. If next task. More than six players Rules: de en Turn over the timer and stack all you master the respective task can play in teams. If you are the In-game text: yes 6 green dice on top of each other you move your marker forward, first to master the Master Task Comments: before the time runs out? And if you fail, you either remain in in the finish area you win the Standard mechanisms, pepped-up by varieties and game. The master task comes use of dice * Pretty com- from a category chosen by your ponents * Good, attractive fellow players; should this task mix of questions and tasks then demand the participation Compares to: First game with this mixture of using of all players you must be among dice the winners of the task to win the Other editions: game. Diceapades, Haywire Group, USA A standard party game with a well-chosen mix of questions and tasks, albeit something spe- cial due to the many different va- rieties of dice and their use, and lots and lots of fun, too! 

Ghost Ship icons are jokers, a INFORMATION Kraken is a “dead” symbol and PLAYERS: AGE: TIME: X MARKS THE SPOT must be covered with a Ghost 2-4 10+ 45+ A CROSS OF GHOST SHIPS Ship or destroyed with a Can- non. Open water can be placed Designer: Mike Richie over any other symbol and can Artist: Nigel Sade Price: not stated Sometimes you find games in pirate plus his symbol and are be covered in turn with any sym- Publisher: Rather Dashing Games 11 unexpected places at Essen Fair! dealt four cards; those cards are bol. There are also action cards - www.ratherdashinggames.com Not that I am surprised at find- like Dominoes pieces, they show Cannons destroy an uncovered ing games at Essen Fair! But in to halves and either two differ- card. New Heading allows you to EVALUATION the middle of role playing ac- ent or two identical symbols. swap a card in the display with cessories a Johnny-Depp look- In your turn you draw cards to one from your hand; Parlay al- Placement game For families alike pirate was offering a game hold six and can then play two lows negotiating for cards and Version: en in which you need to form a cards one after the other; placed Plunder gives you a card from Rules: en cross with your pirate icons in a cards must touch another card another player’s hand or from In-game text: no display. at a border or edge. You can also the discard pile. If you do not Comments: You are randomly assigned a put cards down on other cards; like your hand you can discard it Interesting version of Dominoes * Pretty illustra- and draw new cards. If you form tions * Difficult to acquire an X from five symbols, you mark Compares to: the middle one with a Doubloon, Dominoes and variants this symbol is now protected, but Other editions: the others are not. You can use Currently none an unprotected symbol for the formation of several crosses. If you are first to have three Dou- bloons in the display you win. X Marks the Spot is well-made, nice, prettily illustrated and of- fers just enough challenge to entice you into another game! Dominoes reloaded! 

WIN The Games Journal now also available as eBook! www.gamesjournal.at For all information on that check our website. ISSUE 446 / JANUARY 2013 39 NEW ARRIVALS u A QUICK GLIMPSE ON NEWCOMERS

BLOCKADE RUNNER ADD ON BOGNAR‘S BRAIN TEASER SMILES DER HERR DER RINGE DER WÄCHTER IM WASSER Publisher: Numbskull Games Publisher: Huch! & friends Publisher: Heidelberger Designer: Patrick und Alex Stevens Designer: Joszef Bognar Designer: Nate French

In the American Civil war the Union tries to block the Confed- Bognar’s Brainteaser is made up from two square planes with Zwergenbinge Der Wächter im Wasser / The Watcher in the erates by sea blockades from supplies out of Europe. Players holes, one blue and one red, each featuring nine holes. In Water Dwarrowdelf Road to Rivendell is the 3rd Adventure are Blockade runners, who want to support the Confederacy those planes sit double-sided discs showing Smileys on both Pack = AP for the LCG Der Herr der Ringe Das Kartenspiel / or simply make profit. Four rounds comprise Union actions, sides, but there aren’t two discs in each of the holes. When The Lord of the Rings The Card Game, featuring 60 cards, goods management, turn order determination and actions of you know twist the planes against each other, some discs fall with a diffictulty level of 5. Cards come from this AP and the players. The Unions wants to block harbors, conquer harbors down into the other plane. Starting from different positions encounter set “Nebelgebirge” of the Khazad-Dum extension. and cities and chase ships on the High Seas. Players can of the discs you try twist or tilt the planes to make all smiles Arwen Undomiel is a new Ally Objective card and must be load and unload or move ships, play action cards or auction look in the same direction. protected by the starting player. Secrecy is a new keyword ships and transport goods on rails. ADD ONN gives you 28 Version: multi * Rules: de en fr nl * In-game text: no and reduces the costs for playing a card from hand in relation Advanced Action Cards to block other players. to the threat level. Durins Doors can never leave the game as Development game for 2-6 players, ages 12+ an explored location. Version: de * Rules: de en es fr pl * In-game text: yes

Development game for 2-6 players, ages 12+ Logic game for 1 or more players, ages 7+ Expansion for the card game for 1-2 players, ages 13+

MEINE ERSTEN REIME MIT DEM SPRECHDACHS MIA AND ME RETTET DIE EINHÖRNER! PICUS Publisher: Huch! & friends Publisher: Schmidt Spiele Publisher: NSV Designer: Wolfgang Dirscherl Designer: Anja Wrede Designer: Reinhard Staupe

Sprechdachs and his friends have learned about a treasure Players must collect Unicorn Tears, find all parts of the Golden All cards show four kites in four colors and a bis or small col- and embark on the adventure of looking for it. On this quest Trumptus and use Elven Weapons in order to fend off Evil ored circle; each kite shows a number between 1 and 50. Four they also meet Bello the Dog and Hilde the Hare. The game Panthea. The top card of the stack is turned up, depending cards are on display, a fifth one is the starting card. When the comes with a color dice and integrated into the pages there on the image cards are placed in the middle of the table or in circle on this card is small you look for the card showing the are round tiles showing items. You separate them from the front of a player; if you do not want to turn up another card smallest number in a kite of this color, if it is large you search pages and can then read out the story and place the tile you can take all open elves and unicorn cards. For the Snake for the highest value. The circle on this 2nd card determines corresponding to the rhyme, or choose a tile and let the child Lasso Card you must throw chips for a duel; depending on the 3rd one, etc. Values of previous cards are not taken into name a corresponding rhyme word or you can play a memo the result you get elves or unicorn cards or they are turned account. If you find the fifth card you put your hand on it: game in which you look for tiles making up a rhyming pair in back face down again. When all six Trumptus cards are When you are correct, you take the card; if not, you quit the the color you rolled. revealed you win with most points on your cards. game. You win with six cards. New edition of Leonardo and Version: de * Rules: de * In-game text: yes Version: multi * Rules: de fr it * In-game text: no Ikarus. Version: de * Rules: de * In-game text: no

Educational Game book for 1 or 2-3 players, ages 3+ Card collecting game for 2-5 players, ages 6+ Concentration game for 2-5 players, ages 7+

PRINZESSIN AMELIA PRINZESSIN LILLIFEE ICH PACKE MEINEN KOFFER! STAR WARS LABYRINTH Publisher: Noris Spiele Publisher: Die Spiegelburg Publisher: Ravensburger Designer: Janina Leon Designer: Max J. Kobbert

Jewelry cards are stacked and three are revealed: Diamonds Prinzessin Lillifee wants to take a trip and packs her suitcase; Between fixed tiles you lay out a labyrinth with tiles. The re- and imps are shuffled and a grid 4x4 is laid out; from your she has made notes on what to take. All players look at the maining tile is inserted at the end of one row or column. This current position you can turn up as many cards as possible item cards in the grid, then the cards are turned over. A task insertion moves all tiles in the row or column and one tile falls either horizontally or vertically; then you choose one of card is revealed and you try to find all items depicted on out at the other end. After inserting a tile you can move your them, take it and place your marker into the gap. A new card it underneath the face-down cards in the grid, the order is space-ship as far as you can or want. With clever use of these is placed in the vacated gap. Revealed imps or markers of irrelevant. In case of a mistake your turn ends; if you manage two moves you try to reach Star Wars characters with your other players stop your turning-over of cards. When you have to find all items you receive the task card and can reveal a space ship. If you reach the current character on your card, collected enough jewels for a piece of jewelry you give them new one. When you have collected six cards you win. Packed you discard the card. If you are the first to discard all cards and back and take the jewelry card. When all diamond cards have in a suitcase-shaped tin. get back to your starting spot, you win. In the Darth Vader Ver- been given out, you win with most pieces of jewelry. Series Version: multi * Rules: de en es fr it nl * In-game text: no sion you must reach cards showing his Symbol with the Darth „Für uns ab Fünf“. Version: de * Rules: de * In-game text: no Vader pawn. Version: multi * Rules: de en es fr it nl * In-game text: no

Placement and collecting game for 2-4 players, ages 5+ Memo and collecting game for 2-6 players, ages 5+ Sliding and position game for 2-4 players, ages 7+

Color codes for target groups (Headline Color) Color codes for features (Bar in Evalution box) For children + learn With friends Chance Strategy Knowledge Communication Dexterity 40 For families For experts Tactic Creativity Memory Interaction Action HIGHLIGHTS AMONG GAMES t FROM THE MUSEUM

RECOMMENDATION #87 HUGO KASTNER RECOMMENDS PLAYERS: Designer: William Attia 2-5 Artist: Arnaud Demaegd AGE: CAYLUS Price: ca. 35 Euro 12+ Year: 2005 FOR THE KING’S FAVOUR Publisher: Ystari/Huch!&friends TIME: www.ystari.com 90+ Dear Reader! “1289. In order to fortify and placement and scoring of workers, as each strengthen the borders of the Kingdom of consideration of one player is deciding and ˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜ France King Philipp The Fair decides to have of having a sustained and lasting effect Tactic Info+ Chance a new castle built. resolves to buy a new cast- on other players. Again and again a need le. For the time being, Caylus is but a humble, remains unfulfilled, very similar to real life. Two hours or more, brimming with tactical and strategic decisions guaranteeing a consistent unimportant dwelling, but soon workers and Sometimes there might be a lack of plain level of tension and challenge, must be set aside craftsmen will be flocking to it by the cartload, money, sometimes a tiny unit of wood or for Caylus. Elements of chance are absent, bluff attracted by the prospects of great wealth an easily provided cloth might promise the equals Zero and nobody suffers from a lack of information because all is handled openly and and prestige the planned building may hold master stroke! face-up. Caylus can be put down as a nearly in stock for them. All around the building site When finally we succeed to construct a pure logic adventure in the „Tension Triangle“ of competence - level of information and luck. a city is developing slowly… Players take on magnificent building it might just be out- Nearly pure due to a certain element of chance the roles of builders who are constructing side the influence sphere of the reeve. that is introduced into the game with the order the castle of the king and developing the Should you happen to be only in second of play for three or more players, connected to an order of decisions on actions. infrastructure of the city nestling at the base place in the castle, you might not incur of the castle. They strive for prestige and try the much-desired favor of the King. If you Hugos EXPERT TIP to win the favor of the King. When the castle happen to place your worker on one of the The rules of the game take some time to get acquainted with. Without a certain amount of has been completed the game will end and urgently needed buildings you might come playing experience the individual strategies do the winner will be the player who owns most away empty-handed from the next one. If not reveal themselves, which means that the first castle construction should be taking as a test prestige.” Those are the words with which the you acquire the wrong resource you might game. But I must emphasize that all rules are rulebook starts the challenging adventure lack food or wood in a deciding moment in stated precisely and logically. But as the building published by Ystari Games. And those words the game. The opponents are not asleep on tiles are not carrying text information but only pictograms, it takes some time until players can are program, too! They present a high-class their feet, that much is clear. Like a puppet orientate themselves without having to consult game experience of many levels and challen- on o string the seneschal moves along step the rules again and again. It is also important to ges, which is as time-consuming as it is in- by step on his lonely road and with his ad- intimately know the individual phases of the game and the suggestions of the author includ- teractive. All that is happening on a colorful vance the end of the game is coming. Maybe ed in the game should be read and adhered to game board à la Arnaud Demaegd (memo- one word on the game board: idiosyncratic if you want to have a realistic chance to win this ries of “Ys” come to mind), with components and interesting, very colorful in strong col- comparative competition of master builders. featuring hundreds of individual pieces. Voi- ors. Functional and sporting a Kramer track. Hugos FLASHZLIGHT lá, prepare yourself to immerse yourself into a On top of all that I must highlight the idea My first encounter with the Kingdom of France in the 12th Century was something of a déjà-vu strategic and tactical adventure for two, three, of placing six workers per round. This results experience, as some of the game mechanisms, four or even five master builders. Where? At in a permanent interaction which reminds resources, building tiles as the targeted together the Austrian Games Museum at Leopoldsdorf, all involved of actions and results in forced created a momentary vivid impression and a vague illusion of having seen this already, of be- of course! reactions. This creates liveliness around the ing familiar with it. That has been around, I can Website: www.spielen.at board; supplies of resources, building, turn recognize it - this is what flashed through my mind. Or was it only an illusory familiarity which order, brick-laying at the castle, reeve move- went as quickly as it came? Irrelevant, in the end The critically scrutinizing eye of the review- ment and special actions and favor points I must confess, because Caylus leaves a very er keeps continually searching and spotting from the king are negotiated. Caylus is an strong, lasting impression, with a challenge for mind end energy of players that feels immense. in the light of experts group’s lamp. With excellent development game, now called “Caylus” one must mention from the start worker placement game, which comes alive PREVIEW: and emphasize the elegance and harmony with your ambitions as a builder. What more DICKE LUFT IN DER GRUFT of the game flow. The individual decision do you want?  Vampires at Dawn crossroads may be interwoven and rami- fied, but the overall process of building the castle remains clear and unfazed. Not for a moment are players distracted or excluded Comments to: [email protected] from the core purpose of the enterprise, the Homepage: www.hugo-kastner.at IMPRESSUM Offenlegung nach dem Mediengesetz: Medieninhaber, Eigentümer, Verleger und Hersteller: Verein „Österreichisches Spiele Museum“, vertreten durch Obfrau Dipl. Ing. Dagmar de Cassan, Raasdorferstrasse 28, 2285 Leopoldsdorf im Marchfelde, Österreich, Telefon 02216-7000, mail-to: [email protected], Internet: www.spielejournal.at - www.gamesjournal.at - Chefredakteur: Dipl.Ing. Dagmar de Cassan Blattlinie: Die Blattlinie ist die Meinung aller Redakteure, freien Mitarbeitern und Gastautoren. Die Spiele zur Erstellung der Rezensionen stellt das Österr. Spiele Museum für die Dauer der Arbeit kostenlos zur Verfügung. Niemand erhält Sach-,Service-, Geldleistungen von den Verlagen. (Alle nicht namentlich gekennzeichneten Rezensionen zu den Spielen sind von Dagmar de Cassan) English Edition Version 1.0 Copyright (c) 2013 by Spielen in Österreich - Die Spiele Collection, Spiele Kreis Wien, Österreichisches Spielefest, Spielefest, Wiener Spiele Akademie, Spiel der Spiele und zwei Spiele-Symbole sind eingetragene Warenzeichen. Ihre Email-Adresse: Wir versenden oft an unsere Mitglieder, Abonnenten und Interessenten eine Erinnerung für Termine und sonstige Infos. Wenn Sie noch nie eine Email von uns erhalten haben, fehlt uns Ihre Email!

Icon explanation GABIS explanation on page 5 Solo Play Two Players Large Groups Recommended Minimum Age 41